Death sentence can be commuted to life imprisonment on ground of delay
On 21 January 2014, Supreme Court of India held that death sentence of a condemned prisoner can be commuted to life imprisonment on the ground of delay on the part of the government in deciding the mercy plea.
Giving life term to 15 death row inmates, including four aides of forest brigand Veerappan, the apex court also ruled that a death convict suffering from mental insanity and schizophrenia cannot be hanged.
The judgment is expected to have implications in various cases, including the petitions filed by three death row convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.
Framing guidelines on disposal of mercy petitions and execution of death sentence, the Supreme Court ruled that convicts given death sentence must be informed about the rejection of their mercy pleas and should be given a chance to meet their family members before they are executed. It also held that solitary confinement of a prisoner, including death row convict, is unconstitutional and it should not be allowed in the prisons.
The Court also said that execution of death sentence should be carried out within 14 days after rejection of the mercy plea.
Tag: Current affairs for competitive exams in India.
On 21 January 2014, Supreme Court of India held that death sentence of a condemned prisoner can be commuted to life imprisonment on the ground of delay on the part of the government in deciding the mercy plea.
Giving life term to 15 death row inmates, including four aides of forest brigand Veerappan, the apex court also ruled that a death convict suffering from mental insanity and schizophrenia cannot be hanged.
The judgment is expected to have implications in various cases, including the petitions filed by three death row convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.
Framing guidelines on disposal of mercy petitions and execution of death sentence, the Supreme Court ruled that convicts given death sentence must be informed about the rejection of their mercy pleas and should be given a chance to meet their family members before they are executed. It also held that solitary confinement of a prisoner, including death row convict, is unconstitutional and it should not be allowed in the prisons.
The Court also said that execution of death sentence should be carried out within 14 days after rejection of the mercy plea.
Tag: Current affairs for competitive exams in India.
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