CM Beant Singh Assassination case: SC asks Centre to file Counter-Affidavit to convict Rajoana's plea for commutation of death sentence

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court asked the Centre to file within two weeks its affidavit on a plea by Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted in the 1995 assassination case of the then Punjab CM Beant Singh, seeking commutation of his death sentence to life term due to the delay in deciding his mercy petition.

Rajoana has been incarcerated for more than 29 years, of which he has been on death row for over 15 years.

Apex Court Bench comprising of Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Vijay Bishnoi asked Centre that, "Why have you not filed your counter-affidavit so far?".

The counsel said they want to place some documents before the court in a sealed cover.

"You file your counter-affidavit otherwise his (Rajoana's) allegations are uncontroverted," the bench said, adding, "You place your affidavit whatever you want to say".

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Rajoana, said the mercy plea filed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on behalf of the petitioner in March 2012, is still pending.

He further added that the Supreme Court had in 2023 said the authorities should take a call on the mercy plea.

Senior Advocate Rohatgi referred to the Apex Court's September 24 last year order which said that any further request for adjournment in the matter at the instance of the respondents would not be entertained.

SC Bench has granted two weeks to the Centre's counsel to file the affidavit and made clear that no more time would be granted.

In September 2024, SC Bench had sought responses from the Centre, the Punjab government and the administration of the Union Territory of Chandigarh on Rajoana's plea.

Former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh and 16 others were killed in a blast at the entrance of the civil secretariat in Chandigarh on August 31, 1995. A special court sentenced Rajoana to death in July 2007.

Source PTI