A Delhi court on Friday turned down a plea seeking assent to meet the four convicts in Nirbhaya gang-rape case to persuade them to donate their organs.

The court while dismissing the plea by an NGO, RACO noted that the petitioner has no locus to “meet the convicts whatever reason there maybe”. RACO, an organisation claims to monitor construction projects in the national capital.

Public Prosecutor argued: “This is not legally tenable as this 14-day period is only for using legal remedies, chanting mantras.”

He further said: “…If they really desire this noble cause, they should get in touch with their family members as they meet them regularly and, therefore they can know the convict’s wish through the family.”

The petitioner’s counsel opposed the submissions of the public prosecutor and said that if they can’t meet them, then the state can be told to meet the convicts and let the petitioner know about the convicts’ desire on the donation.

On Jan 7, a Delhi court had issued death warrants against all the four convicts — Pawan, Akshay, Vinay and Mukesh and fixed Jan 22 (7 am) as the date for execution.

After the verdict, Asha Devi, mother of 2012 Delhi gang-rape victim had said, “My daughter has got justice. Execution of the 4 convicts will empower the women of the country. This decision will strengthen the trust of people in the judicial system.”

She had further told the news agencies, “The order (on death warrant) will restore the faith of women in law.”

Out of the six accused in the gangrape and murder charges, the main accused Ram Singh had allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail during the pendency of the trial while another accused was a minor at the time of the commission of the crime and was hence sent to a reform facility for juveniles and released after serving three years.

—India Legal Bureau