SC agrees to hear a PIL challenging commutation of death sentence

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to look into the merits of decisions by the President of India and Governors of states to commute death penalty to life imprisonment. A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam issued a notice to the Centre on a petition filed by renowned author Pinki Virani.

Citing four instances where death penalty had been commuted to life term,Virani’s petition has questioned the manner in which the President and Governors exercised their power under the Constitution to grant mercy.

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It sought judicial review of such decisions and reasonable yardsticks for exercising such power.