SC ruling on Ajmal Kasab part of routine judicial process: Maharashtra

Maharashtra government today said the Supreme Court's stay on the death sentence awarded to Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab for the November 2008 Mumbai terror attack was part of the routine judicial process.

"The apex court's ruling staying the death sentence (of Kasab) is part of the routine judicial process," Additional Chief Secretary (Home) UC Sarangi said.

The apex court today stayed the death penalty awarded to the lone surviving gunman, saying the due process of law has to be observed.

The court, while noting it would like to hear Kasab's plea against the death penalty at length, agreed to deal with the matter in an expeditious manner.

A special bench of Justice Aftab Alam and Justice CK Prasad also observed that many people in the country are of the view that the appeal filed by the 24-year-old terrorist "should be rejected (outright) and should not be heard at all".

The Bombay High Court had in its February 21 verdict upheld the trial court order of death sentence to Kasab, lodged in Arthur Road prison here, for the "brutal and diabolical" attacks aimed at "destabilising" the government.