File photo of demonstrators in India. PHOTO: AFP/FILE.
The High Court rejected an appeal by the four who were sentenced last year to hang following a trial over the attack on the 23-year-old student on a moving bus in the capital in December 2012.
A lawyer for the four said he would now appeal against the sentence to the country's top court.
"Our appeal has been dismissed by the high court. The death sentence of the four convicts has been upheld. We will go to the Supreme Court," AP Singh told reporters outside the court.
"This is a politically motivated decision," he added.
The physiotherapy student was attacked by six men, including with an iron rod, after she boarded a private bus while going home from the cinema with a male friend.
She died from her injuries 13 days later.
The brutality of the attack, and her determination to survive so she could identify her attackers to police, sparked large-scale angry street protests as well as soul-searching about India's treatment of women.
The case led to reform of rape and sexual assault laws and shone an international spotlight on what women's groups called a "rape epidemic" in the country.
Four of her attackers were convicted last September after the case was fast-tracked, while a juvenile was sentenced to three years in a detention centre. A sixth man was found dead in jail.
The woman's mother, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, welcomed the decision, saying the family was "inching closer to justice".
"Complete justice will be delivered when all the convicts are hanged to death," she said outside the court.
"The juvenile accused should also get the same punishment," she said.
The High Court dismissed the men's appeal as well as confirming the death penalty handed down by the trial court after consideration. As part of Indian legal procedure, the High Court is required to review the death penalty delivered by a lower court.
COMMENTS (12)
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Remember the 5th accused? government pleads that he is a juvinile,but he is not and he is being saved because he is a prestigious member of M. class!
Hanging is really too easy. Languishing in prison for 30 or 40 years, although costly, would be a more severe punishment. Between the two punishments I would prefer death. I have never been in an Indian prison, but have been told they are not pleasant.
@Ria generally I would agree with you but the merciless way these people people treated
a fellow human being is beyond words you really think mercy would transform these people
from devils to angels?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rape and violence towards women is a very grave and deep rooted social problem. But more heinous than the rape is the wicked society itself, which first of all gives birth to a rapist and then hypocritically demonizes his actions.
Instead of killing these rapists, Indian people should eradicate their gigantic porno and drug industries which have largely affected the behaviour of the mainly marginalized population of their country. Hanging the rapists, without giving them a chance to correct and repent their misdoing, is a proof of societal failure............and a 100% guarantee that these crimes shall never cease!
@Moiz Omar
Even though i understand your sentiment, what you suggest is not justice but vengeance
@ria yeah because now we have fast track court which are time bound for rapes and woman violence related issue..thankfully those demeaning two finger testing to detect rapes and many ghastly practices are also dismissed and revamped..and made in accordance to world standard practices in such cases..
@stranger... True..now all those nonsense mercy pleas by accused are left....review petition to Supreme Court, president pardon, clemency resolution from state assembly of accused for vote bank politics, by time 9 years may pass,then human right activist frm india and UN will jump in saying death is cruelty...largest democracy What are u doing we expect better from u abolish death penalty! They Will go to Supreme Court and Supreme Court will stay death and convert it into life sentence saying he was supposed to be hanged on spot then...now ten years passed living under shadow of death each day itself is death penalty..cruelty... And so...Clemency granted! So all thugs and criminals will rejoice,never learn and commit crime like festivities..
This has been modus operandi for past 60 years..in general cases... Hopefully the bureaucracy reformed the after time taken in bureaucratic hurdles hanging the accused.. One also wonders why human right activist can only feel the pain of barbarian sub human rapist than dead victim..
very sad news.... they should be given a chance human right activist ria
Supreme court should also dismiss any appeal summarily and the President of India should also reject any mercy petition as soon as it is received. The death sentence should be carried out immediately upon rejection of the mercy petition.
thats fast.... i never expected that fast.... if the same pace continues these brats might be executed earlier than even kasab..... which would be a record time.....