Rajoana plea sensitive matter, Centre tells SC

The Centre on Monday told the Supreme Court that there was sensitivity involved in the matter related to the mercy petition of death row convict Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted in the 1995 assassination case of then Punjab CM Beant Singh.

A Bench headed by Justice BR Gavai was hearing Rajoana’s plea seeking directions to commute his death sentence to life term due to the “inordinate delay” in deciding his mercy petition.

“There is a sensitivity involved. Some agencies will have to be consulted,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Bench, also comprising Justices PK Mishra and KV Viswanathan.

Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, who also appeared in the matter, said the issue was being reviewed by the government. He said since the issue was sensitive, some more inputs were required in the matter. The Bench said it would hear the plea after four weeks.