India's top court has temporarily stayed the hanging of two of the four men convicted of the 2012 gang rape and murder of a young woman on a bus in New Delhi.

The Supreme Court's order came in response to a petition filed by an attorney for the two men which said the appeals court that confirmed the death sentence this week had completely ignored their defence.

The court scheduled a hearing in the case for March 31.

An attorney for the other two convicted men, who also face the death penalty, said he would approach the court soon.

The attack on the woman unleashed a wave of public anger over the treatment of Indian women and the epidemic of sexual violence in the country.

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