SC denies govt plea for death penalty deadline

The Supreme Court on Wednesday summarily rejected the Union government's plea seeking stricter timelines for death row convicts to avail legal remedies, and for executions to be carried out within seven days after rejection of a mercy petition.

- Utkarsh Anand

A bench comprising justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria observed that there was no merit in the application and that the 2014 Shatrughan Chauhan judgment, which the Centre wanted modified, was complete in all aspects.

The Centre's plea, argued through Additional Solicitor General (ASG) KM Nataraj, wanted certain modifications to the 2014 judgment so that the framework for death penalty cases factored in the rights and agony of victims, besides addressing the prolonged uncertainty faced by convicts.

During the brief hearing on Wednesday, the top court refused to modify the previous judgment even as it told ASG Nataraj that the Centre would be at liberty to push for some of the measures it has pressed for in its application in appropriate proceedings.

In Shatrughan Chauhan's case, the top court held that delays beyond of the convicts' control qualify as grounds for commuting the death penalty, holding that the pain and suffering brought on by the delay warrant commutation of sentence to life in prison.

On September 24, ASG Nataraj mentioned the matter for an expedited hearing of the Centre's plea.