Supreme Court Urges President to Decide on Balwant Singh Rajoana's Mercy Petition

The Supreme Court of India has directed the Secretary to the President to present the mercy petition of Balwant Singh Rajoana, a death-row prisoner, to the President for consideration within two weeks. Rajoana was sentenced to death for the assassination of Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh in 1995. The court, led by Justices BR Gavai, Prashant Kumar Mishra, and KV Viswanathan, stated that if the petition is not addressed in the given timeframe, they will consider interim relief for Rajoana.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Rajoana, argued that the government had delayed the decision, claiming it was not the right time. The state of Punjab's counsel mentioned that the Union government had previously cited national security concerns if Rajoana were released. The court questioned the absence of the Centre's representation, noting that a special bench was formed for this matter.

The court emphasized that the bench was assembled specifically for this case and had previously adjourned to allow the Union of India to consult with the President's office. The court has scheduled the next hearing for December 5.

Rajoana, associated with the Babbar Khalsa militant group, seeks to commute his death sentence to life imprisonment due to a significant delay in deciding his mercy petition. He has been imprisoned for nearly 29 years, with 17 years on death row. The Centre had decided in 2019 to commute his sentence on the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, but this decision has not been implemented.

In 2020, Rajoana filed a petition for commutation, and the Supreme Court directed the government to address the mercy petition. The Ministry of Home Affairs deferred the decision, citing national security concerns. Rajoana's execution was initially scheduled for March 31, 2012, but was stayed after a mercy petition was filed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.