The Supreme Court on Monday declined to grant interim relief to Balwant Singh Rajoana, who was convicted for the assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. The bench, led by Justice B.R. Gavai, stated that it could not consider Rajoana’s plea for immediate release without first hearing from the Central Government regarding the status of his pending mercy petition.
Balwant Singh Rajoana, a supporter of the Babbar Khalsa terrorist group and a former Punjab Police constable, has been in prison for 29 years, awaiting the execution of his death sentence. In 1995, Rajoana participated in the assassination of Beant Singh, which he later sought to have commuted to life imprisonment.
During the proceedings, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Rajoana, argued vehemently about the unreasonable delay in addressing the mercy petition, which has been pending since March 25, 2012. He pressed for temporary relief, emphasizing that Rajoana has been detained for nearly three decades.
The Punjab government’s attorney informed the court that the state has yet to file its response and requested additional time. The Supreme Court bench, which also includes Justices P.K. Mishra and K.V. Vishwanathan, expressed the need for clarity on the mercy petition’s status before making any decisions. The court emphasized that it would grant the respondents two weeks to file their responses.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta indicated that the mercy petition might be with the President and requested time to gather information. Justice Gavai remarked that the court would consider taking action if the Central Government failed to respond adequately.
Rajoana’s case remains a politically and nationally sensitive issue, reflecting the complexities of addressing terrorism-related offenses in India. His affiliation with Babbar Khalsa during a period of violent insurgencies in Punjab adds layers to the legal and ethical considerations of his potential release.
