Supreme Court dismisses centre's plea on mercy petition

The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the centre's plea for review of its Jan 21 order which said the unexplained and inordinate delay in deciding the mercy petition is a ground for commutation of death sentence to life imprisonment. 

The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam Jan 21 said there can be no distinction of an accused convicted under terror law or normal criminal law for seeking commutation of death sentence to life imprisonment on the grounds of inordinate and unreasonable delay.

Taking up the review petition in their chamber, the court said there was no merit and dismissed it.