Supreme Court of India: Balwant Singh Rajoana's Death Sentence Commutation Plea Listed Before Three-Judge Benc

• The Supreme Court has directed that Balwant Singh Rajoana's death sentence commutation plea be listed before a three-judge bench.
• Rajoana has been incarcerated for nearly 30 years, with his plea seeking release due to extraordinary delay in deciding his mercy petition.
• The case is related to the 1995 assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, who was killed in a bomb blast outside the Punjab Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh.

This development is significant, as it may indicate a growing willingness by the Supreme Court to reconsider its earlier decisions on commutation of death sentences.

The Supreme Court's decision to list Balwant Singh Rajoana's death sentence commutation plea before a three-judge bench has sparked speculation about a potential shift in the court's stance on capital punishment. The move comes after nearly 30 years of Rajoana being incarcerated, with his plea seeking release due to extraordinary delay in deciding his mercy petition. This development is significant, as it may indicate a growing willingness by the Supreme Court to reconsider its earlier decisions on commutation of death sentences.

Rajoana's plea is related to the 1995 assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, who was killed in a bomb blast outside the Punjab Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh. The case has been pending for over two-and-a-half years, with repeated orders from the Supreme Court directing the Union government to respond. Despite these directions, no response has been filed, leading Rajoana's lawyers to seek an early hearing before a three-judge bench.

Rajoana's mercy petition, submitted under Article 72 of the Constitution in March 2012, has been pending for over fourteen years. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee had sought clemency on his behalf, highlighting the extraordinary delay in deciding his plea. This development is crucial, as it may indicate a growing recognition by the Supreme Court of the need to address delays in mercy petitions.

Lawyers and compliance officers should watch for potential developments in Balwant Singh Rajoana's case, as the Supreme Court's direction to list his plea before a three-judge bench may indicate a shift in the court's stance on commutation of death sentences.

Source: Original reporting via [Source]