Supreme Court Challenges 11-Year Delay in Balwant Singh Rajoana's Mercy Plea

The Supreme Court of India has sharply questioned the inexplicable and inordinate delay in deciding the mercy petition of Balwant Singh Rajoana, a convict in the 1995 assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. An astonishing 11 years have passed since the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) itself recommended the commutation of Rajoana's death sentence to life imprisonment.

A bench comprising Justices B R Gavai and Sandeep Mehta expressed significant concern over the prolonged inaction, especially given that the recommendation for commutation came directly from the Central government.

The MHA had proposed commuting Rajoana's death penalty to a life sentence in 2012, specifically on the occasion of the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. Despite this, the President's decision on the mercy plea remains pending, leaving Rajoana in a state of prolonged uncertainty.

During recent proceedings, the Additional Solicitor General (ASG), K M Nataraj, informed the court that the matter is currently under the consideration of the President and requested more time.

However, the bench was not entirely convinced, highlighting the Centre's own role in initiating the commutation proposal. "The recommendation for the mercy plea was made by you (Centre), not by Rajoana. You made the recommendation, and you are not deciding it. What do you have to say about this?" Justice Gavai remarked, underscoring the government's responsibility.

Balwant Singh Rajoana was convicted for his role in the 1995 bomb blast at the Punjab Civil Secretariat, which claimed the lives of Beant Singh and 16 others.

His death sentence was upheld by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2007. Notably, Rajoana chose not to file an appeal in the Supreme Court, believing in a higher form of justice. While Rajoana’s co-accused, Jagtar Singh Hawara, saw his death sentence commuted to life imprisonment by the Supreme Court in 2011, Rajoana's fate has hung in limbo for over a decade since the MHA's recommendation.

This prolonged delay raises serious questions about due process and the effectiveness of the mercy petition mechanism.

The Supreme Court's intervention brings much-needed scrutiny to a case that highlights the human cost of administrative inertia in the justice system. The court has scheduled the next hearing for the third week of July, signaling its intent to ensure a timely resolution to this protracted legal saga.