Former Punjab CM Beant Singh Assassination Case: SC Adjourns Convicted Balwant Singh’s Plea To Commute Death Sentence

Rajoana, a former Punjab Police constable who has been in jail for 28 years awaiting execution, said in his plea that the Centre has not decided on his March 25, 2012 mercy petition to date. Rajoana’s plea submitted that he has been in jail for more than 28 years and on death row for 17 years. Senior lawyer and former Attorney  General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Rajoana, had argued that he could not be made to wait indefinitely citing national security. “Keeping the petitioner on death row while sitting over his mercy plea for such a long time violates his fundamental rights,” Rohatgi argued.

Before Rohatgi could complete, Justice Gavai asked the Punjab Counsel if a reply had been filed against the notice issued. The Counsel replied that they could not file a report because of the vacation.

Earlier, Additional Solicitor General KM Natraj, appearing for the Ministry of Home Affairs, had contended that the mercy petition cannot be considered as it was filed by the Siromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee and not by Rajoana himself. He said it cannot be decided until the appeals of other convicts were decided by the top court.