Mercy petitions can't be kept pending for too long, says CJI

In a landmark verdict, a SC Bench, headed by the CJI, on January 21 said death sentence of a condemned prisoner can be commuted to life imprisonment on the ground of delay on the part of the Government in deciding the mercy plea.

During arguments on mercy petitions filed by over a dozen condemned prisoners, the Centre told the SC there can't be a timeframe for examining such pleas. While delivering the verdict, the Bench gave life term to 15 death row inmates.

At the seminar, the CJI said that after the Delhi gang-rape case of December 2012, the SC had told courts that conviction in cases of sexual assault can be based on solitary testimony of the victim.

He maintained that increase in pendency of criminal cases was not because of the judiciary but due to apathy and inaction of investigative agencies. Action needed to be taken against erring officers.

Probe agencies felt handicapped by want of modern gadgets and also effectiveness of traditional methods of investigation is diminishing, the CJI noted.