The Supreme Court commuted the death sentence of 1993 Delhi terror convict Devender Pal Singh Bhullar to life imprisonment on the grounds of delay in deciding his mercy petition and because he suffers from a mental illness. The Supreme Court in a verdict on January 21 had held that inordinate, unexplained and unreasonable delay in deciding the mercy petition and insanity/mental illness/schizophrenia were the circumstances for commutation of death sentence to life imprisonment. Regional parties of Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference and PDP reacted to the development by saying the verdict showed that Afzal Guru, convicted for the attack on Parliament, was denied justice.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said the Bhullar decision was “another example of double-standards displayed vis-à-vis Kashmir”. She said it reopened the wounds of Kashmir. “Such discriminatory approach about Kashmir needs to be responded forcefully to prevent their repetition in future,” Mufti told a public meeting in Anantnag. “It needs a united and strong response at political level and through democratic institutions.” Mufti accused ruling NC of “collaborating” in Guru hanging in the most inhuman manner by even denying him a last customary meeting with his family.
FROM THE NOOSE TO MERCY
AUGUST 25, 2001: Bhullar was sentenced to death by a Delhi court.He then appealed in the Supreme Court.
MARCH 22, 2002 :The apex court confirmed the death sentence.
DECEMBER 17, 2002 :A review petition filed by Bhullar was dismissed.
JANUARY 14, 2003 :Bhullar filed a mercy petition before the President of India.
MARCH 12, 2003 :A curative petition filed by him was dismissed by the Supreme Court.
MAY 30, 2011 :President rejected Bhullar’s mercy plea.
JUNE 24, 2011 :Navneet Kaur filed a writ petition in view of president’s decision.
APRIL 12, 2013 :The Supreme Court observed that there was an unreasonable delay of eight years in the disposal of the mercy petition. However the writ petition was dismissed since Bhullar was convicted under TADA Act.
AUGUST 13, 2013 :Navneet filed a review petition again, which was dismissed by the SC. She then filed a curative petition.
JANUARY 31, 2014 :SC stayed Bhullar's execution and agreed to review its judgment by which it had rejected the convict's plea to commute his death sentence to life.
MARCH 31, 2014 :SC commuted Bhullar’s death sentence to life in prison.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said the Bhullar decision was “another example of double-standards displayed vis-à-vis Kashmir”. She said it reopened the wounds of Kashmir. “Such discriminatory approach about Kashmir needs to be responded forcefully to prevent their repetition in future,” Mufti told a public meeting in Anantnag. “It needs a united and strong response at political level and through democratic institutions.” Mufti accused ruling NC of “collaborating” in Guru hanging in the most inhuman manner by even denying him a last customary meeting with his family.
FROM THE NOOSE TO MERCY
AUGUST 25, 2001: Bhullar was sentenced to death by a Delhi court.He then appealed in the Supreme Court.
MARCH 22, 2002 :The apex court confirmed the death sentence.
DECEMBER 17, 2002 :A review petition filed by Bhullar was dismissed.
JANUARY 14, 2003 :Bhullar filed a mercy petition before the President of India.
MARCH 12, 2003 :A curative petition filed by him was dismissed by the Supreme Court.
MAY 30, 2011 :President rejected Bhullar’s mercy plea.
JUNE 24, 2011 :Navneet Kaur filed a writ petition in view of president’s decision.
APRIL 12, 2013 :The Supreme Court observed that there was an unreasonable delay of eight years in the disposal of the mercy petition. However the writ petition was dismissed since Bhullar was convicted under TADA Act.
AUGUST 13, 2013 :Navneet filed a review petition again, which was dismissed by the SC. She then filed a curative petition.
JANUARY 31, 2014 :SC stayed Bhullar's execution and agreed to review its judgment by which it had rejected the convict's plea to commute his death sentence to life.
MARCH 31, 2014 :SC commuted Bhullar’s death sentence to life in prison.
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