Will SC verdict on Bhullar impact cases of Rajiv Gandhi's assassins?
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday rejected the mercy petition of Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar saying a delay cannot be the grounds to commute a death sentence to a life term. The apex court's verdict is likely to pave way for the execution of others on death row including the Rajiv Gandhi assassination convicts Murugan, Santhan, Perarivalan.
However, lawyers say that the apex court's verdict won't impact the death penalties of convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi case. The lawyer of Nalini, one of the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, expressed disappointment on the court's order. "The order of the Supreme Court is disappointing, it has not taken in consideration the ground realities in the country," lawyer S Doraiswamy said.
But he added, "SC's verdict will not have a direct impact on the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. It may affect only the question of delay may be."
The convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case say their death penalty should be commuted because the President of the country took 11 years to reject their appeal. They have already spent 22 years in prison.
Another lawyer in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, M Radhakrishnan, said the apex court has been harsh towards Bhullar. "In Bhullar's case, this is a big disappointment. I think the SC has been very harsh towards this death convict, having kept the matter pending for 10 years the SC should have commuted the death sentence," he said.
However, lawyers say that the apex court's verdict won't impact the death penalties of convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi case. The lawyer of Nalini, one of the convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, expressed disappointment on the court's order. "The order of the Supreme Court is disappointing, it has not taken in consideration the ground realities in the country," lawyer S Doraiswamy said.
But he added, "SC's verdict will not have a direct impact on the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case. It may affect only the question of delay may be."
Another lawyer in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, M Radhakrishnan, said the apex court has been harsh towards Bhullar. "In Bhullar's case, this is a big disappointment. I think the SC has been very harsh towards this death convict, having kept the matter pending for 10 years the SC should have commuted the death sentence," he said.
Courtesy: CNN IBN
