December 16 Delhi gangrape: Judge breaks pen's nib after giving death

NEW DELHI: Immediately after signing the order of death sentence to the four convicts in the December 16 gangrape and murder case, the judge broke the nib of the pen, in keeping with a tradition.

"It is the first death sentence awarded by Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna after he took over as the judge of the fast track court constituted to try cases of sexual offences against women," court sources said.

The judge, who took less than three minutes to deliver the quantum of sentence, broke the nib of the pen after signing the 20-page order and retired to his chamber.

Breaking the nib of the pen which is used to sign the order delivering death sentence has been a tradition since the days of British governance in India.