Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has given time till March 18 to the Central Government to take a decision on the demand of commuting the death sentence of Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted of the murder of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, to life imprisonment. The court said that this is the last chance given to the central government. If the central government is unable to take a decision in this matter, then the court will start hearing on merit basis.
In this case, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said on behalf of the Central Government that there is a case of murder of 16 people including a Chief Minister, the government is still considering this issue. Even in the last hearing, the Supreme Court had asked the Home Ministry to take an early decision on Rajoana’s mercy petition.
In jail for 27 years
Balwant Singh Rajoana has been in jail for almost 27 years and his mercy petition is pending with the Central Government for 12 years. During the hearing, it was argued on behalf of Rajoana that the Chief Minister had died in a bomb blast and death sentence was awarded in this case in July 2007. The High Court had upheld the sentence in 2010. Has been in jail for 27 years. The mercy petition is pending since 2012.
Demand to be released on parole also
Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Rajoana, had said that long delay in the death penalty case is a violation of fundamental rights. Also demanded to be released on parole till the decision on mercy petition is taken.
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