Black Warrant issued in Delhi gangrape case: All you need to know

New Delhi : A Delhi court on Tuesday issued a Black Warrant against the four men accused of gangraping and murdering a 23-year-old physiotherapy student in 2012.

What is Black Warrant?

Black Warrant, also known as death warrant, is a writ that authorizes the execution of a condemned person. It is also known as execution warrant. In simple words, a black warrant is a warrant which is issued when a hanging has to take place.

How Black Warrant is issued?

After all the scopes of getting mercy in the case end, the proceedings for the issuance of black warrant begin. The convict "be hanged by the neck until he be dead" is printed on the black warrant.

FOUR MEN ACCUSED IN DELHI GANGRAPE ISSUED BLACK WARRANT

What Black Warrant says?

The Black Warrant is addressed to the office in-charge of the jail where the death row convict is behind bars. The warrant also identifies the convict who has been sentenced to die, the case in which the person was convicted, the day he/she was awarded the death penalty and the confirmation of death sentence by the court.

The Black Warrant delivers the final instruction: "This is to authorise and require you [the jail officer] to carry the said sentence into execution by causing the said [name of convict] to be hanged by the neck until he be dead..."

The Black Warrant then provides the time and place of the execution and it also asks the concerned jail officer to respond with a certificate of the execution of the death row convict. The Black Warrant carries the signature of a judge of the trial court that had awarded the death penalty and it also has the seal of the court.