Beant Singh Assassination: SC Gives 'Last Chance' To Centre To Decide On Death Penalty

'Why does government need three weeks, what is it doing?' the bench with Chief Justice SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian said

Outlook Web Bureau

Updated on: 25 January 2021 1:39 pm

The Supreme Court on Monday gave the Centre two weeks to decide on Balwant S Rajoana's plea seeking a commutation of death penalty in case related to former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh's assassination.

The Centre has sought three weeks to decide on the plea and said it needs time to examine the issue.

A bench of Chief Justice SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, "Why does government need three weeks, what is it doing?"

The bench said that “three weeks’ time sounds unreasonable to us. We had told you to do it by January 26. Today is January 25”.

Mehta said that under the present circumstances, it is advisable to have the matter after three weeks.

The bench said, “We are giving you last chance. Two weeks”.

During the hearing, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Rajoana, said that this man is in jail for last over 25 years and his mercy petition is pending for last nine years.

Rajoana, a former Punjab Police constable, was convicted for his involvement in an explosion outside the Punjab civil secretariat that killed Beant Singh and 16 others in 1995.

With PTI inputs