Delhi gangrape: Delhi High Court issues production warrant to death row convicts

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court today issued production warrants for tomorrow to four death row convicts in the December 16 gangrape and murder case on the trial court's reference for confirmation of the capital punishment given to them.

A bench of justices Reva Khetrapal and Pratibha Rani directed Tihar Jail authorities to produce Mukesh (26), Akshay Thakur (28), Pawan Gupta (19) and Vinay Sharma (20), before it tomorrow.

The order came on the submission of Dayan Krishnan, who has been re-appointed as Special Public Prosecutor by the Delhi Police in the case, that this court can direct production of the convicts to know whether they are going to file an appeal against the trial court's judgement convicting and sentencing them in the case.

The prosecutor made his submission while answering a query of the bench as to how soon the court can hear the matter at length.

The court also asked the high court registry to prepare paper books for the parties in the matter.

On September 13 while awarding capital punishment to Mukesh, Akshay, Pawan and Vinay, Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna had referred the case to the high court for confirmation of the sentence.

The trial court has to refer each death penalty case to the high court for confirmation of the punishment.

The trial court had also granted 30 days time to the convicts to file their appeal before the high court.