No fixed time-frame for deciding mercy petitions, says Chidambaram
By ANIWednesday, February 23, 2011
NEW DELHI - Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram on Wednesday said that the Government won’t prescribe a fixed time-frame for deciding mercy petitions of convicts who have been sentenced to death.
Speaking during a Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, Chidambaram said: “The approach he has adopted on deciding mercy petitions since taking over in 2008 is yielding results and therefore he sees “no reason for fixing time-lines.”
He said there was no time-limit prescribed for the President to decide on mercy petitions.
“This is an exercise of power by the highest constitutional functionary, that is the President of India. It will be inappropriate to prescribe a time-line (to the President),” he added.
Chidambaram said he was referring to the President the mercy petitions in order of the date of the convictions and appeals received.
So far, 13 cases have been referred and a decision obtained in seven, he said, adding that the case of three persons sentenced to death in the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was higher in order than the Afzal Guru’s case, sentenced to death in the Parliament attack case.
During the last three decades, the shortest time taken in the disposal of a mercy petition was 18 days (September 1992) and the longest time taken was 11 years, 11 months and 18 days (February 2011).(ANI)
