Nirbhaya convict moves SC after President rejects mercy plea

One of the death row convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya murder and gang-rape case on Saturday (January 25) moved the Supreme Court seeking judicial review of the rejection of mercy petition by the President.

The petition has been filed by convict Mukesh Kumar whose mercy plea was dismissed by President Ram Nath Kovind on January 17.

“A petition has been filed under Article 32 for judicial review of the manner of rejection of the mercy petition in terms of the judgement of Supreme Court in Shatrughan Chauhan case,” advocate Vrinda Grover, who is representing Kumar, told PTI.

Also read: Nirbhaya case: Delhi court disposes convicts’ lawyer’s petition

This comes on a day when a Delhi court rejected the contention of the counsel representing the convicts that the prison authorities were not handing over certain documents required to file mercy and curative pleas.

The court said no further directions were required in the rape and murder case and disposed of his plea.

Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Kumar Jain said the convicts’ lawyer can take pictures of the relevant documents, diary, and paintings from the Tihar jail authorities.

(With inputs from agencies)