It took almost four years, multiple protests and numerous court proceedings and trials before the apex court could reach this decision. 

Here is a brief timeline of the case that shook the entire country:

• December 16, 2012: Almost four years ago, a paramedical student was brutally gangraped by six men on a moving bus in the national capital. The case attracted a lot of media attention for the sheer violence inflicted on her
• January 2, 2013: CJI Altamas Kabir inaugurates fast-track court (FTC) for speedy trial in the case
• January 3, 2013: Police files chargesheet against five adult accused of offences including murder, gang-rape, attempt to murder etc.
• March 11, 2013: In a sensational twist in the gang rape-cum-murder case, the main accused Ram Singh committed suicide in a high-security cell in Tihar Jail 

• August 31, 2013:  The Juvenile Justice Board sentenced the lone minor accused in the Dec 16, 2012, gang rape to a three-year stay in a special home.
• September 13, 2013: Additional Sessions Judge Yogesh Khanna sentences the four remaining accused to death
• March 13, 2014: Delhi High Court Bench of Justices Reva Khetrapal and Pratibha Rani upholds the trial Court verdict.
• March 15, 2014: After allegations of a denial of fair trial, Supreme Court stays execution of the accused 

• December 18, 2015: The Delhi High Court refuses to stay the release of the juvenile convict in the after completion of his 3-year jail term.
• April 3, 2016: Nirbhaya hearings begin in the Supreme Court, after 19 months of being in cold storage. Justices Dipak Misra, V Gopala Gowda and Kurian Joseph to hear the case.
• April 8, 2016: Senior Advocates Raju Ramachandran and Sanjay Hegde appointed as Amicus Curiae.
• August 29, 2016: High drama in courtroom as allegations of police tampering with evidence are made; M L Sharma breaks down.
• September 2, 2016: Advocate M L Sharma concludes his submissions.
• September 16, 2016: Former DCP (Delhi) Chaya Sharma, who was transferred to Mizoram post the Delhi gang rape case attends the hearing

• November 7, 2016: Senior Advocate and Amicus Curae Raju Ramachandran makes his submissions in Court, argues for the sentencing order to be set aside.
• November 28, 2016: Senior Advocate and Amicus Curae Sanjay Hegde argues against reliability of evidence in the case.
• February 3, 3017: Supreme Court decides to re-hear the case on the sentencing aspect, after the petitioners contend that there have been violations in procedure.
• March 6, 2017: All the accused submit additional affidavits to the Court.
• March 27, 2017: Supreme Court reserves verdict after nearly a year of hearing the case and says it continue hearing the plea filed by gang rape convicts, challenging the Delhi High Court’s order.
• May 5, 2017: The Supreme Court pronounces judgement in the case, upholding the death sentence of all four convicts.