In a pivotal session on Monday, the Supreme Court addressed the ongoing matter of Balwant Singh Rajoana’s mercy petition, a sensitive case involving the assassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh in 1995. The central government, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj, emphasized the delicacy of the situation and the need for comprehensive consultations before proceeding.
Rajoana, currently on death row, has petitioned for his death sentence to be commuted to life imprisonment, citing a significant delay in the adjudication of his mercy plea. The bench, led by Justice B R Gavai and comprising Justices P K Mishra and K V Viswanathan, indicated that a decision would be postponed by four weeks to allow for further input from relevant agencies.
The government’s stance was made clear when Solicitor General Mehta highlighted the complexities involved, stating that the mercy petition review involved multiple sensitive elements requiring careful handling and additional insights. This assertion came after a temporary pause was placed on an earlier directive which had ordered the President’s secretary to expedite the review of Rajoana’s petition.
This legal entanglement traces back to the deadly blast on August 31, 1995, which claimed the lives of Beant Singh and 16 others at the Chandigarh civil secretariat. Following a special court’s death sentence in July 2007, Rajoana has spent over 17 years on death row, part of a total incarceration period of nearly 29 years.
The apex court’s prior refusal in May of the previous year to commute Rajoana’s sentence left the door open for the central authorities to address the mercy petition in due course. The latest plea from Rajoana not only seeks commutation but also his eventual release, stressing the protracted delay in legal proceedings and the need for timely resolution as previously mandated by the court.
