Supreme Court rejects clemency plea of Rajoana

In a major verdict, Supreme Court of India on Friday dismissed a petition seeking stay of the death sentence of Balwant Singh Rajoana, convicted for theassassination of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh.

An apex court bench, headed by Justice T.S. Thakur, dismissed as withdrawn the petition by advocate Abhinav Ramkrishna on the ground that the petitioner had no locus standi to make such an appeal. The court also asked how, in a criminal matter, could a person other than the accused move the higher court seeking relief against the award of a sentence.

The court also noted that there was no pressing situation as the government had already put on hold the implementation of Rajoana’s death sentence.