Beant Singh Killing: SC questions Centre for not deciding Rajoana's mercy petition

The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the Central government for not taking any decision so far on the mercy petition of Balwant Singh Rajoana, who was awarded the death sentence for the assassination of the then Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh in 1995.

A bench of Justices Chief Justice UU Lalit, Justices S Ravindra Bhat and PS Narasimha was irked over the Centre not taking any clear stand on the mercy petition despite being given time by the court to do so, and now seeking adjournment in the case.

Earlier in May, the apex court had directed the Centre to decide within two months mercy petition of Balwant Singh Rajoana seeking to commute to life imprisonment the death sentence on the ground of his long incarceration of 26 years.

"We gave you two months. And now, two more months have passed. You raised two technical issues. We told you please don't wait for that," said the bench.

The top court said it could not tell the Centre what decision has to be taken but the government certainly should take a decision in the matter.

It directed a responsible officer from the concerned department to file an affidavit indicating the status in the matter.