SC Sets March 18 Deadline for Decision on Balwant Singh Rajoana’s Mercy Petition

The Supreme Court has given the Union Government time period until March 18 to decide on the mercy petition of Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted for the 1995 assassination of Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh.

The bench, led by Justice B.R. Gavai, emphasized this as the “last chance” for the Centre to act, failing which the Court would address the plea on its merits. 

Filed in 2012, Rajoana’s mercy petition remains undecided despite the convict spending 28 years in prison, 17 of which were on death row as a convict. 

The Centre attributed delays to the case's sensitivities, urging additional time.