Top court issues guidelines on processing of mercy petitions

The Supreme Court established guidelines for swift processing of mercy petitions for death-row convicts, addressing delays and upholding fundamental rights.

The Supreme Court on Monday laid down a comprehensive set of guidelines to ensure the swift and efficient processing of mercy petitions by death-row convicts, marking a significant development in the legal framework surrounding capital punishment and underlining the adverse effects of delays on both the convicts and societal confidence in justice.

The Supreme Court also directed state governments to frame office orders or executive guidelines outlining the standard operating procedures for dealing with mercy petitions. (HT Photo)

In its landmark judgment, a bench comprising justices Abhay S Oka, Ahsanuddin Amanullah and AG Masih emphasised that delays in executing death sentences, particularly those arising from administrative