Overview

• A bench led by Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta asked why Balwant Singh Rajoana has not been executed after the Centre called the 1995 assassination a serious offence, querying who is responsible for the delay.
• Rajoana seeks commutation of his death sentence to life due to the prolonged wait on a mercy plea, with about 29 years in custody including more than 15 on death row.
• Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi told the court there is no decision on the mercy plea and raised concerns about possible death row phenomenon, solitary confinement, and his client’s mental state.
• The Centre’s counsel said the issue is sensitive and under consideration and will report back on status; the bench refused to adjourn at the Centre’s instance and listed the matter for October 15.
• Beant Singh and 16 others were killed in the 1995 Chandigarh blast; Rajoana was sentenced to death in 2007, the SGPC filed a mercy plea under Article 72 in March 2012, the Supreme Court declined commutation in May 2023, and in January the court asked the Centre to decide the plea.