Nirbhaya case: Delhi court fixes Mar 20 for execution of 4 convicts

A Delhi court directed on Thursday that the four convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case "be hanged by the neck until they are dead on March 20 at 5.30 am".

Additional Sessions Judge Dharmendra Rana issued a fresh date for execution after being informed by the Delhi government that the convicts have exhausted all their legal remedies.

This is the fourth time that death warrants have been issued as the earlier three had to deferred pending the exhaustion of legal remedies by the convicts.

The death row convicts are: Mukesh Kumar Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31).

Their lawyer conceded before the court that there was no legal impediment for it in proceeding to fix the date of execution.

In its order, the court said: "It is fairly conceded at bar by counsel of convict as well as public prosecutor (appearing for the State) that as of now, there is statuary no bar in exercise of power under 413/414 (issuing death warrant) of the CrPC, rather it is obligatory on the part of the court to discharge the duties cast upon it under the relevant provisions.

"In view of the same, it is directed that convicts shall be hanged by the neck until they are dead on March 20 at 6 am."