Top court issues guidelines on processing of mercy petitions
3 months, 1 week ago

Top court issues guidelines on processing of mercy petitions

Hindustan Times  

The Supreme Court on Monday laid down a comprehensive set of guidelines to ensure the swift and efficient processing of mercy petitions by death-row convicts, marking a significant development in the legal framework surrounding capital punishment and underlining the adverse effects of delays on both the convicts and societal confidence in justice. The bench reinforced that prolonged delays in processing mercy petitions or issuing execution warrants infringe on a convict’s fundamental rights under Article 21, stating that “the sword of Damocles could not be kept hanging over convicts indefinitely because the resulting mental and physical anguish amounted to cruel and degrading treatment. Additionally, prison authorities must immediately forward mercy petitions to the dedicated cell upon receipt, along with detailed records such as the convict’s criminal antecedents, family background, economic status and prison conduct. The court also directed state governments to frame office orders or executive guidelines outlining the standard operating procedures for dealing with mercy petitions.

Death Prison Court Petitions Capital Punishment Authorities Execution Delays Convicts State Governments Mercy Petitions Processing Mercy  court  prison  convicts  authorities  issues  delays  death  petitions  processing  mercy  guidelines  supreme  execution

History of this topic

Courts To Dispose Execution Petitions Within 6 Months, Presiding Officer Liable On Failure : Supreme Court
2 weeks, 2 days ago

Courts To Dispose Execution Petitions Within 6 Months, Presiding Officer Liable On Failure : Supreme Court

Live Law  

The Supreme Court today directed all High Courts to call for information on all pending execution petitions in the district judiciary. The Court directed the High Courts to issue an administrative circular asking the trial courts to ensure that pending execution petitions are decided within six months. Once the data is collected by each of the High Courts, the High …

'Either You Decide Or We'll Hear' : Supreme Court Gives Last Chance To Union On Balwant Singh's Mercy Plea, Posts On March 18
2 months ago

'Either You Decide Or We'll Hear' : Supreme Court Gives Last Chance To Union On Balwant Singh's Mercy Plea, Posts On March 18

Live Law  

The Supreme Court today stated that either the Union Government will take a decision or the Court will decide on the merits of the mercy petition filed by Balwant Singh Rajoana, Babbar Khalsa terrorist, seeking commutation of the death sentence awarded to him in the Punjab CM Beant Singh assassination case. Singh, a police officer in Punjab, was convicted on …

State Must Not Defeat Purpose Of Death Sentence By Showing Laxity In Implementation: Supreme Court
3 months, 1 week ago

State Must Not Defeat Purpose Of Death Sentence By Showing Laxity In Implementation: Supreme Court

Live Law  

The Supreme Court while upholding the commutation of death sentences of two convicts highlighted several instances of administrative and judicial delays in the processing of mercy petitions and issuance of death warrants, which ultimately led to the commutation of sentence. A bench of Justices Abhay Oka, Ahsanuddin Amanullah, and Augustine George Masih observed a delay of over three years by …

Supreme Court Issues Guidelines On Death Penalty Execution & Mercy Petitions To Avoid Delay In Process
3 months, 1 week ago

Supreme Court Issues Guidelines On Death Penalty Execution & Mercy Petitions To Avoid Delay In Process

Live Law  

The Supreme Court on Monday directed all states and union territories to constitute a dedicated cell for the prompt processing of the mercy petitions by death row convicts within the timeline laid down by the respective governments. The dedicated cell shall be responsible for the prompt processing of the mercy petitions within the time frame laid down by the respective …

SC directs creation of dedicated cell to deal with mercy petitions filed by convicts
3 months, 2 weeks ago

SC directs creation of dedicated cell to deal with mercy petitions filed by convicts

New Indian Express  

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday passed a slew of directions for early disposal of mercy petitions filed by convicts, and directed that a dedicated cell shall be constituted by the home department or the prison department of the state governments/Union Territories for dealing with such petitions. A bench of Justices Abhay S Oka, Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Augustine George …

'Sensitive Matter' : Union Seeks More Time On Balwant Singh's Mercy Petition; Supreme Court Adjourns Hearing By 4 Weeks
3 months, 3 weeks ago

'Sensitive Matter' : Union Seeks More Time On Balwant Singh's Mercy Petition; Supreme Court Adjourns Hearing By 4 Weeks

Live Law  

Specifically on Rohatgi's arguments on national security, Counsel for Punjab responded: "An affidavit was filed by the Union, wherein a national threat was stated in the affidavit that there is national threat on release of this person." However, while confirming the conviction of a co-accused Jagtar Singh Hawara, the High Court commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment. However, on …

Supreme Court Requests President To Decide Death Row Convict Balwant Singh's Mercy Petition In 2 Weeks
4 months ago

Supreme Court Requests President To Decide Death Row Convict Balwant Singh's Mercy Petition In 2 Weeks

Live Law  

Specifically on Rohatgi's arguments on national security, Counsel for Punjab responded: "An affidavit was filed by the Union, wherein a national threat was stated in the affidavit that there is national threat on release of this person." However, while confirming the conviction of a co-accused Jagtar Singh Hawara, the High Court commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment. However, on …

Supreme Court upholds decision to cap number of visits by prisoners' relatives, counsel
1 year, 2 months ago

Supreme Court upholds decision to cap number of visits by prisoners' relatives, counsel

The Hindu  

The Supreme Court on January 9 upheld an order of the Delhi High Court which had said the decision to cap the number of visits by prisoners' families, friends and legal advisors to twice a week has been taken considering the number of inmates, and it cannot be said to be "completely arbitrary". The high court, in its order dated …

Decide Mercy Petitions Against Death Sentence At The Earliest So That Convicts Won't Take Undue Advantage : Supreme Court
1 year, 11 months ago

Decide Mercy Petitions Against Death Sentence At The Earliest So That Convicts Won't Take Undue Advantage : Supreme Court

Live Law  

The Supreme Court directed all State Governments to ensure that mercy petitions in death penalty cases are decided and disposed of at the earliest. In the matter, the High Court commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment on the ground that there was an inordinate unexplained delay on the part of the State/Governor of the State in not deciding the …

Inordinate delay in 'mercy petition' would frustrate object of death sentence: Supreme Court
1 year, 11 months ago

Inordinate delay in 'mercy petition' would frustrate object of death sentence: Supreme Court

India TV News  

Supreme Court on mercy petition: The Supreme Court of India has said if there is an inordinate delay in not deciding the mercy petition, the object and purpose of the death sentence would be frustrated, and asked states/appropriate authorities to decide mercy petitions at the earliest. "If even after the final conclusion, even up to this court, even thereafter there …

DC Edit | SC move to set guidelines on death penalty welcome
2 years, 6 months ago

DC Edit | SC move to set guidelines on death penalty welcome

Deccan Chronicle  

The decision of the Supreme Court to set up a Constitution Bench to lay down guidelines for the courts on providing a convict a real and meaningful hearing before deciding on a death penalty is a refreshing step that will further civilise the criminal justice delivery system in our country. The only protection a person can have against incarceration or …

A new track for capital punishment jurisprudence
2 years, 10 months ago

A new track for capital punishment jurisprudence

The Hindu  

A recent trend in the evolution of jurisprudence around the death penalty in India may reset judicial thinking around sentencing and have long-term ramifications in the awarding of capital punishment. The Court has also initiated a suo motu writ petition to delve deep into these issues on key aspects surrounding our understanding of death penalty sentencing. Building on this, the …

"Special Cells, Security To Couples, Expeditious Trial & Compensation": P&H HC Issues Directions To Authorities For Dealing With Honour Killing Cases
3 years, 6 months ago

"Special Cells, Security To Couples, Expeditious Trial & Compensation": P&H HC Issues Directions To Authorities For Dealing With Honour Killing Cases

Live Law  

Observing that there has been a flagrant violation of Supreme Court directions, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Tuesday issued a slew of directions to the State Governments of Punjab and Haryana and UT of Chandigarh, it's Police authorities and SLSAs for dealing with honour killing cases in view of the protection being given to the couples facing threat …

Andhra Pradesh High Court Issues Guidelines For Prompt Transmission Of Bail Orders
3 years, 7 months ago

Andhra Pradesh High Court Issues Guidelines For Prompt Transmission Of Bail Orders

Live Law  

While granting bail to an accused under The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, the Andhra Pradesh High Court took serious note of the significant delay in issuing the certified copies of the orders. Thereby, the Court issued 9-point guidelines as under: a. Parties/Advocates shall download the order copy from the High Court's Website along with case details which …

Supreme Court Weekly Round Up
4 years, 4 months ago

Supreme Court Weekly Round Up

Live Law  

Siddique Kappan Was Using 'Garb Of Journalism' To Disturb Law & Order In Hathras: UP Govt Tells SC The State of Uttar Pradesh has submitted before Supreme Court that Journalist Siddique Kappan has no locus to approach the Top Court under an Article 32 petition, since he is not in an illegal custody/confinement but is in. Siddique Kappan Was Using …

Timely Disposal Of Mercy Petitions: SC Issues Notice On Plea seeking Formulation of Guidelines, Seeks Centre's Response
4 years, 9 months ago

Timely Disposal Of Mercy Petitions: SC Issues Notice On Plea seeking Formulation of Guidelines, Seeks Centre's Response

Live Law  

The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice in a plea seeking directions to the Government for framing guidelines on timely disposal of Mercy Petitions.A bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde, AS Bopanna & Hrishikesh Roy sought response from the Ministry of home Affairs and granted 4 weeks time to file reply.CJI: "Format is not necessary. The Supreme Court on Wednesday …

Gujarat HC Constitutes New Benches To Hear Bail Applications, Detention Matters [Read Circular]
4 years, 11 months ago

Gujarat HC Constitutes New Benches To Hear Bail Applications, Detention Matters [Read Circular]

Live Law  

A Circular has been issued by the Gujarat High Court for the constitution of new Single Judge Benches and Division Bench from 15th April, 2020 onwards. As per an Order passed by the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court, additional Single Judge Benches and Division Benches will be constituted to hear pending bail applications, temporary bail applications, both of …

[Breaking] Nirbhaya Case : Delhi Court Stays Execution Of All Convicts Until Further Orders As Pawan Files Mercy Petition [Read Order]
5 years ago

[Breaking] Nirbhaya Case : Delhi Court Stays Execution Of All Convicts Until Further Orders As Pawan Files Mercy Petition [Read Order]

Live Law  

The last moment mercy petition filed by Nirbhaya case convict Pawan Kumar Gupta has resulted in the postponement of the execution of death sentences of all convicts in the Nirbhaya case until further orders, which was otherwise scheduled to take place tomorrow at 6 AM.The new development of Pawan's mercy petition persuaded Additional Sessions Judge Dharmender Rana of Patiala House …

Nirbhaya Case: Plea For Separate Executions Of Death Row Convicts Deferred To 5th March
5 years ago

Nirbhaya Case: Plea For Separate Executions Of Death Row Convicts Deferred To 5th March

Live Law  

A Bench comprising Justices R. Banumathi, Ashok Bhushan & Navin Sinha, has deferred the Union's plea seeking separate execution of death row convicts in the 2012 Nirbhaya Gang Rape Case to 5th March 2020. The Ministry of Home Affairs had sought directions to execute the death row convicts separately after the Delhi High Court on 5th February 2020 had rejected …

SC Issues Order Prescribing Fixed Timelines For Listing Of Death Penalty Criminal Appeals [Read Order]
5 years, 1 month ago

SC Issues Order Prescribing Fixed Timelines For Listing Of Death Penalty Criminal Appeals [Read Order]

Live Law  

The Supreme Court Registry has released an Office Order laying down timelines and guidelines for listing of Criminal Appeals involving Death Penalty. The following are the prescribed Guidelines that have been formulated: - 1) In matters where Death Penalty has been upheld/confirmed and the Supreme Court has granted leave, the Appeal shall be listed not later than Six Months before …

Aaj Ki Baat Feb 13: Death row convicts who commit heinous crimes must not be allowed to file mercy petitions
5 years, 1 month ago

Aaj Ki Baat Feb 13: Death row convicts who commit heinous crimes must not be allowed to file mercy petitions

India TV News  

Aaj Ki Baat Feb 13: Death row convicts who commit heinous crimes must not be allowed to file mercy petitions The lawyers for the convicts are so wily that they never file petitions together in order to gain time. They file petitions in different courts - Patiala district court, Delhi High Court and Supreme Court, only to gain time. The …

Nirbhaya Case : SC Allows Centre To Move Trial Court For Fresh Death Warrants
5 years, 1 month ago

Nirbhaya Case : SC Allows Centre To Move Trial Court For Fresh Death Warrants

Live Law  

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued notice to the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya case on the petition filed by the Union Government against the February 5 judgment of the Delhi High Court, which held that the convicts can only be executed together after they have exhausted their legal remedies.A bench comprising Justices R Banumathi, Ashok Bhushan and …

Nirbhaya Case: SC Agrees To Hear Tomorrow Centre's Appeal Against Delhi HC Order Refusing To Vacate Stay On Executions
5 years, 1 month ago

Nirbhaya Case: SC Agrees To Hear Tomorrow Centre's Appeal Against Delhi HC Order Refusing To Vacate Stay On Executions

Live Law  

Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to hear Centre's plea challenging the Delhi High Court's decision to not allow convicts of the 2012 Delhi gang-rape and murder case to be executed separately.ASG Natrajan mentioned the matter before a Three Judge Bench headed by Justice Ramana.ASG submitted that the convict Akshay's mercy has been rejected by the President yesterday. Supreme Court on …

[Breaking] Nirbhaya Case : Delhi HC Refuses To Set Aside Trial Court's Stay On Execution; Directs Convicts To Exercise Legal Remedies Within 7 Days [Read Judgment]
5 years, 1 month ago

[Breaking] Nirbhaya Case : Delhi HC Refuses To Set Aside Trial Court's Stay On Execution; Directs Convicts To Exercise Legal Remedies Within 7 Days [Read Judgment]

Live Law  

Observing that the four convicts in the Nirbhaya case cannot be executed separately, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday directed them to exhaust their remaining legal remedies within 7 days from today. Though the Court did not agree with the interpretation of the Trial Court that pendency of mercy petition of even one convict is ground to postpone the executions, …

Nirbhaya Case: Delhi HC To Hear On Sunday Centre's Plea Against Stay Of Convicts' Execution
5 years, 1 month ago

Nirbhaya Case: Delhi HC To Hear On Sunday Centre's Plea Against Stay Of Convicts' Execution

Live Law  

In an urgent sitting held on Saturday evening, the Delhi High Court issued notices to the four convicts of the Nirbhaya rape case, in a plea challenging the trial court order which had put a stay on their execution. This revision petition is moved by Ministry of Home Affairs, against the order dated 31/1/2020 wherein ASJ Dharmender Rana had stayed …

‘Legal process taken for a ride’: Centre asks SC to set rules for death row cases
5 years, 2 months ago

‘Legal process taken for a ride’: Centre asks SC to set rules for death row cases

Hindustan Times  

Amid the uncertainty over the execution of the four men sentenced to death for the 2012 Delhi gang rape case, the Centre on Wednesday approached the Supreme Court to introduce a 7-day deadline for death-row convicts to file mercy petitions. Supreme Court of India, photo by Rajkumar The Centre requested the top court to amend its 2014 verdict in the …

At ‘lightning speed’, Delhi asks Centre to reject gang rape convict’s mercy plea
5 years, 2 months ago

At ‘lightning speed’, Delhi asks Centre to reject gang rape convict’s mercy plea

Hindustan Times  

The Delhi Government has recommended rejecting the mercy petition filed by Mukesh Singh, one of the four men sentenced to death for the 2012 gangrape, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced on Wednesday. The deputy chief minister’s assertion comes hours after a Tihar jail official told the two-judge bench of the Delhi High Court that the four death-row convicts will …

Nirbhaya case: One of 4 convicts exploring option of filing curative plea in SC
5 years, 3 months ago

Nirbhaya case: One of 4 convicts exploring option of filing curative plea in SC

India TV News  

A lawyer for one of the death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case said on Wednesday that there is still a legal remedy of a curative petition in the Supreme Court before filing mercy petition to the President. Convict Mukesh Kumar's lawyer said that he is examining the option of first filing a curative petition against …

PIL Filed In SC To Frame Guidelines For Deciding Mercy Petitions [Read Petition]
5 years, 3 months ago

PIL Filed In SC To Frame Guidelines For Deciding Mercy Petitions [Read Petition]

Live Law  

A Public Interest Litigation has been filed in the Supreme Court by Adv. Shiv Kumar Tripathi, seeking framing of proper procedures, rules and guidelines in disposal of the mercy petitions. The petitioner opined that the undue delay in disposal of the mercy petitions gives rise to public unrest and creates doubts and suspicion in the mind of the public at …

Delhi Court Agrees To Transfer Execution Plea In Nirbhaya's Case To Another Judge
5 years, 3 months ago

Delhi Court Agrees To Transfer Execution Plea In Nirbhaya's Case To Another Judge

Live Law  

District Judge Yashwant Kumar, at Patiala House Court Complex, has said that he will transfer the case to another Additional Sessions Judge as soon as he gets the file from the court where the case is pending. In December 2018, Nirbhaya's parents had moved the Patiala House Court to expedite the procedure of executing the death penalty given to all …

Convict on death row in 2012 gang-rape case files mercy petition before President
5 years, 4 months ago

Convict on death row in 2012 gang-rape case files mercy petition before President

India TV News  

Vinay Sharma, one of the convicts facing the gallows in the 2012 gangrape and murder case of a 23-year-old paramedic student, has filed a mercy petition before President Ram Nath Kovind, officials said. In a notice issued to the four convicts on October 29, the jail superintendent informed them that they have only seven days after the receipt of the …

2012 Delhi rape case: Four convicts exhaust all legal remedies, told to file mercy petition or face death penalty
5 years, 4 months ago

2012 Delhi rape case: Four convicts exhaust all legal remedies, told to file mercy petition or face death penalty

Firstpost  

Four convicts in the 2012 Delhi gangrape case have been informed that they have exhausted all legal remedies except to file a mercy petition against their death sentence before President Ram Nath Kovind. New Delhi: Four convicts in the 2012 Delhi gangrape case have been informed by Tihar jail authorities that they have exhausted all legal remedies except to file …

Inordinate & Unexplained Delay In Deciding Mercy Petition: SC Commutes Death Sentence [Read Judgment]
6 years, 1 month ago

Inordinate & Unexplained Delay In Deciding Mercy Petition: SC Commutes Death Sentence [Read Judgment]

Live Law  

The Supreme Court has commuted death sentence awarded to a man convicted for murder of his wife and five children, mainly on the ground of inordinate and unexplained delay in deciding the mercy petition. The bench comprising Justice NV Ramana, Justice Deepak Gupta and Justice Indira Banerjee referred to judgments in V. Sriharan alias Murugan vs. Union of India and …

Jail Reforms- SC Issues Slew Of Directions: Directs Compensation To Next Kin In Custodial Deaths , Medical Assistance, Phone & Video Conferencing With Family For Prisoners [Read Judgment]
7 years, 6 months ago

Jail Reforms- SC Issues Slew Of Directions: Directs Compensation To Next Kin In Custodial Deaths , Medical Assistance, Phone & Video Conferencing With Family For Prisoners [Read Judgment]

Live Law  

The Supreme Court, on Friday, agonized over the increasing number of custodial or unnatural deaths in the prisons across India and issued a slew of directions to curb them.“…we do hope that the highlighting of this issue will bring about awareness in the mind and heart of the powers that be and consequential reforms in prisons which may ultimately reduce, …

Supreme Court asks high courts to identify, compensate kin of prisoners who suffered an unnatural death
7 years, 6 months ago

Supreme Court asks high courts to identify, compensate kin of prisoners who suffered an unnatural death

Firstpost  

The Supreme Court on Friday asked all high courts to register a suo motu petition to identify kin of prisoners who admittedly died an unnatural death after 2012 and award suitable compensation to them. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday asked all high courts to register a suo motu petition to identify kin of prisoners who admittedly died an …

MHA recommends rejection of mercy pleas of two Death Row convicts
9 years, 7 months ago

MHA recommends rejection of mercy pleas of two Death Row convicts

Live Law  

President Pranab Mukherjee has been reportedly recommended by the Ministry of Home Affairs to reject the petitions of two death row convicts.The death sentence for the convicts, Mohan Anna Chavan and Jitendra Gehlot, currently lodged in Maharashtra jails, was upheld by the Supreme Court and their mercy petitions were rejected by the Maharashtra Governor.Mohan Anna Chavan was awarded. President Pranab …

MHA recommends rejection of mercy pleas of two Death Row convicts
9 years, 7 months ago

MHA recommends rejection of mercy pleas of two Death Row convicts

Live Law  

President Pranab Mukherjee has been reportedly recommended by the Ministry of Home Affairs to reject the petitions of two death row convicts.The death sentence for the convicts, Mohan Anna Chavan and Jitendra Gehlot, currently lodged in Maharashtra jails, was upheld by the Supreme Court and their mercy petitions were rejected by the Maharashtra Governor.Mohan Anna Chavan was awarded. President Pranab …

President rejects mercy petition of Yakub Memon
9 years, 7 months ago

President rejects mercy petition of Yakub Memon

India TV News  

New Delhi: President has rejected the mercy petition filed by Yakub Memon against his death sentence. The decision came after Mukherjee held consultations first with Home Minister Rajnath Singh who was later joined by Home Secretary L C Goyal and Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar. Earlier, Home Minister Rajnath Singh tonight called on President Pranab Mukherjee and is believed to have …

Should we lay down the law on mercy pleas, asks SC
9 years, 8 months ago

Should we lay down the law on mercy pleas, asks SC

The Hindu  

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre whether it should lay down the law on the procedure for moving mercy petitions, apparently in response to reports that the lone death row convict in the 1993 serial blasts case, Yakub Memon, had moved his before the Maharashtra Governor. Dattu asked Solicitor-General Ranjit Kumar whether there were any rules of procedure …

Repeated mercy pleas violate principle of finality: Centre tells SC
9 years, 8 months ago

Repeated mercy pleas violate principle of finality: Centre tells SC

Firstpost  

Repeated mercy pleas before the President and the Governor by convicts seeking remission or commutation of their sentences violate the principle of finality, the Centre on Wednesday told the Supreme Court. New Delhi: Repeated mercy pleas before the President and the Governor by convicts seeking remission or commutation of their sentences violate the principle of finality, the Centre on Wednesday …

Home Ministry rejects mercy petitions of Koli, 4 others
10 years, 9 months ago

Home Ministry rejects mercy petitions of Koli, 4 others

India TV News  

New Delhi: Mercy petitions of five death row convicts including Surendra Koli, who was found guilty in the sensational Nithari serial rapes and killings, were today rejected by the Home Ministry. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh signed five files recommending to President Pranab Mukherjee that the mercy pleas of Renukabai and Seema, Koli, Rajendra Pralhadrao Wasnik, Jagdish and Holiram Bordoloi …

Nithari killer’s among 6 mercy pleas rejected by Centre
10 years, 9 months ago

Nithari killer’s among 6 mercy pleas rejected by Centre

Live Mint  

New Delhi: The home ministry has rejected mercy petitions of six people on the death row, including that of serial killer Surinder Kohli, a government official said on Wednesday requesting anonymity. In January, the Supreme Court ruled that disposing of mercy petitions is the President’s obligation and not a prerogative. “Considering the high status of office, the Constitutional framers did …

SC rejects Centre's plea on verdict on commutation of death penalty
11 years ago

SC rejects Centre's plea on verdict on commutation of death penalty

India TV News  

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today dismissed the Centre's plea seeking review of its verdict holding that undue delay by the government in deciding mercy plea can be a ground to commute death sentence of a condemned prisoner. The apex court rejected the Centre's contention that the January 21 judgement by which 15 condemned prisoners were granted life and paved …

For deciding mercy petition, delay should be made criteria, says Supreme Court to government
11 years, 1 month ago

For deciding mercy petition, delay should be made criteria, says Supreme Court to government

Live Law  

In the light of the recent verdict delivered by the Supreme Court by commuting the death penalty of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassins to life imprisonment on the ground of inordinate delay on government and President's part to decide their mercy pleas, the Supreme Court asked the government that while deciding the mercy petition of a death row convict, …

Make delay a criteria for deciding mercy petition, says SC
11 years, 1 month ago

Make delay a criteria for deciding mercy petition, says SC

India TV News  

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Tuesday asked the government to include delay as a criteria in deciding the mercy petition of a death row convict. Pointing out that the government has set out certain criteria for deciding mercy petitions, the bench of Chief Justice P. Sathasivam, Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Shiva Kirti Singh said: "We hereby recommend that in …

Supreme Court verdict holds out hope for Rajiv case convicts
11 years, 1 month ago

Supreme Court verdict holds out hope for Rajiv case convicts

The Hindu  

In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court on Tuesday granted relief to the three convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case — Murugan, Santhan and Perarivalan — by commuting their death sentence into life term on the grounds of inordinate delay in disposal of their mercy petitions by the President. While commuting the death sentence of three convicts — Murugan, …

Supreme Court issues landmark guidelines relating to Death Penalty;
11 years, 2 months ago

Supreme Court issues landmark guidelines relating to Death Penalty;

Live Law  

A three Judge Bench of the Supreme Court issued landmark guidelines relating to Death Penalty, while allowing all the 13 Writ Petitions filed by 15 Death Convicts in various cases. Since this Court has also held that Article 21 rights inhere in a convict till his last breath, even after rejection of the mercy petition by the President, the convict …

‘Delay no ground for mercy in terror cases’
11 years, 11 months ago

‘Delay no ground for mercy in terror cases’

The Hindu  

Long delay by the President or the Governor in disposing of mercy petitions of persons convicted under anti-terror laws or similar statutes cannot be a ground for commutation of the death sentence, the Supreme Court held on Friday. The Bench of Justices G. S. Singhvi and S. J. Mukhopadhaya said the Supreme Court’s earlier judgements holding that long delay might …

For a moratorium on death sentence
12 years, 3 months ago

For a moratorium on death sentence

The Hindu  

The Supreme Court’s five-judge Constitution Bench judgment in Bachan Singh is the source of contemporary death penalty jurisprudence in India. In Sangeet, the Radhakrishnan-Lokur Bench has continued the judicial scrutiny started by Bariyar of post- Bachan Singh death penalty cases, to see if they have complied with the requirements of the law. Bachan Singh, delivered by a five-judge Constitution Bench, …

Discover Related