The Supreme Court on Wednesday found it inappropriate to direct the government to commute the death penalty of Balwant Singh Rajoana — who is on death row for the 1995 assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh — in the face of the Home Ministry’s conclusion that a decision on the mercy petition now would compromise national security.
“The Ministry of Home Affairs, upon material consideration of various reports from its different branches, has come to the conclusion that the consideration may be deferred as it could have an impact of compromising the security of the nation or creating law and order situation,” a three-judge Bench of Justices B.R. Gavai, Vikram Nath and Sanjay Karol observed in a judgment.
Justice Nath, who authored the verdict, said that it was not up to the court to “delve” on the Ministry’s decision to defer a decision on the clemency plea. “It is within the domain of the executive to take a call on such sensitive issues. As such, this court does not deem it appropriate to issue any further directions,” the court observed.
