A mercy petition pending since 2012, the plea says: Balwant Singh Rajoana’s death sentence commutation plea will return to the Supreme Court on October 28, after Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj sought a short accommodation on behalf of the Union.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
New Delhi: After the Additional Solicitor General sought a short accommodation for the Union, the Supreme Court on Wednesday (October 7) directed that Balwant Singh Rajoana’s death sentence commutation plea, which seeks to reduce the sentence to life imprisonment, be listed on October 28, 2026, at the top of the board [Balwant Singh Rajoana Death Sentence Commutation Plea].
Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and Aparesh Kumar Singh formed the bench that passed the order. Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj appeared for the Union.
How the plea has travelled
The Supreme Court first sought responses from the Union government, the Punjab government and the Chandigarh administration in September 2024. In April, it directed the Centre to file its affidavit within two weeks. In August, it ordered that the plea be listed once a three-Judge Bench is constituted.
What happened on Wednesday
Counsel for Rajoana pointed to the repeated adjournments in the matter over the years. In its order, the Court recorded that, pursuant to its earlier orders of September 23 and September 26, a compilation of judgments had been provided to counsel. It then directed that the matter be listed on October 28, 2026, at the top of the board.
What the plea asks
The plea concerns Rajoana’s death sentence in the 1995 assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh. He seeks commutation to life imprisonment on the ground of inordinate delay in deciding his mercy petition, which has remained pending since 2012. According to the plea, he has been in custody for over 29 years and on death row for more than 15 years. The Court has expressed no view on the merits of the plea.
What the order does and does not do
At the heart of the plea is whether prolonged delay in deciding a mercy petition justifies commuting a death sentence. Wednesday’s order only fixes the next date and records the Union’s request for a short accommodation. The Court has decided nothing on the delay claim, and the Union’s response is awaited.
Case Title: Balwant Singh Rajoana Death Sentence Commutation Plea
Bench: Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and Aparesh Kumar Singh, Supreme Court of India
Date of Order: October 7, 2026
Appearances: For the Union of India, Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj