SC dismisses petition for time-bound disposal of mercy pleas

New Delhi, Feb 22 (UNI) The Supreme Court today dismissed a petition seeking to issue directions to the government to dispose of the mercy petitions of those facing death sentence in a time-bound manner.

The mercy petitions referred to include that of Mohammad Afzal Guru facing death sentence in the Parliament attack case.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices R V Raveendran and Markandey Katju refused to entertain the petition filed by Lashkar-e-Hind and told the petitioner to approach the appropriate authorities for the reliefs.

The petition contained large number of prayers but was mainly directed against those involved in terrorist and anti-national activities.

The petitioner also contended that the mercy petitions sometimes remain pending before the President for long due to political compulsions and other considerations not related to the offences and henious crimes committed by the convicts facing the death sentences.

The petitioner also contended that Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil had made a statement that it would take seven years for the government to decide the mercy petition of Mohammad Afzal Guru.

Parliament was attacked on December 13 2001 when about a dozen people including seven security personel, one civilian and five terrorists were killed.

UNI AKS/SC JT RP DS1310