SC Questions Centre on Delay in Rajoana’s Hanging for CM Killing

Supreme Court today demanded answers from the Centre on why Balwant Singh Rajoana, the convicted assassin of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, remains unhanged nearly three decades after the crime. Rajoana, who has spent 29 years behind bars—including a staggering 15 years on death row—was at the center of a hearing where the bench pulled no punches, questioning the government's inaction despite labeling the offense as "serious."

The three-judge panel, comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N V Anjaria, was briefed by Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj on the gravity of the 1995 assassination. Beant Singh and 16 others perished in a devastating bomb blast outside Chandigarh's civil secretariat, an attack that shook the nation amid Punjab's turbulent militant era. Rajoana, a key conspirator, was sentenced to death by a special court in July 2007, but his execution has been in limbo ever since.

"Why haven't you hanged him yet? Who's responsible for this endless delay? We certainly haven't issued any stay on the execution," the bench sharply inquired of Nataraj, highlighting the frustration over prolonged mercy petition processes. This isn't the first time the apex court has prodded the authorities; earlier directives emphasized timely decisions on such pleas to avoid undue suffering for convicts.

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Representing Rajoana, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi argued passionately for commuting the death sentence to life imprisonment, citing the inordinate delay in resolving his client's mercy petition. "No decision has been made on the mercy plea for years," Rohatgi stated, expressing uncertainty about Rajoana's current condition—whether he's in solitary confinement or even mentally stable after such prolonged incarceration. He emphasized, "If the death penalty is to be lifted through commutation, he could finally be released. This is about an Indian citizen's rights, not some international dispute like India-Pakistan."

Rohatgi further clarified that Rajoana himself didn't file the mercy petition; it was submitted on his behalf by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) in March 2012 under Article 72 of the Constitution, seeking clemency. The plea underscores Rajoana's nearly 29 years in prison, arguing that the extended time on death row constitutes cruel and unusual punishment, warranting relief.

Nataraj, on behalf of the Centre, promised to seek instructions and update the court on the petition's status, acknowledging the sensitivity of the case. However, the bench made it clear they wouldn't tolerate further adjournments at the government's request, scheduling the next hearing for October 15.

This development comes amid a history of judicial interventions. Back in January 2023, the Supreme Court had urged the Centre to decide on the mercy plea promptly. By September of that year, responses were sought from the Centre, Punjab government, and Chandigarh administration. Even earlier, on May 3, 2023, the court declined to commute the sentence directly, deferring to the competent authority—yet here we are, with no resolution in sight.

The assassination of Beant Singh marked a dark chapter in Punjab's history, tied to the Khalistan movement's violent phase. Rajoana's case has polarized opinions: some view him as a symbol of resistance, while others demand swift justice for the victims' families. As the plea for release gains traction, it raises broader questions about the death penalty in India—its deterrence value, the ethics of delays, and the balance between mercy and retribution.

Rajoana's fresh petition highlights his 28.8 years of imprisonment, pleading for freedom after enduring what he describes as psychological torment on death row. With the Supreme Court's firm stance, all eyes are now on the Centre to break the deadlock in this long-standing saga of justice deferred.

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