Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
SC issues notice to Centre, Punjab, Chd over delay in deciding Balwant Singh Rajoana's mercy plea
Balwant Singh Rajoana approached Supreme Court seeking release, citing delay in deciding his petition
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, September 27, 2024: The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Centre, the Punjab government, and the Chandigarh administration regarding the delay in deciding on the mercy petition of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh's assassination convict Balwant Singh Rajoana.
The notices were issued about the petition submitted by Balwant Singh Rajoana, a convicted terrorist associated with Babbar Khalsa who is currently on death row.
The petition, filed under Article 32, seeks the commutation of his death sentence, citing 'extraordinary' and 'inordinate delay' of one year and four months in the resolution of his mercy petition, which is still awaiting a decision from the President of India.
In a fresh notice, the apex Court bench, led by Justices BR Gavai, Prashant Kumar Mishra, and KV Viswanathan, ordered the Centre, Punjab governments, and the Chandigarh administration, to respond to the matter within four weeks.