Tracking the development of the case, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said: "Afzal Guru's case was again sent to me by the president when I took over as home minister. I examined it in detail and I recommended it to president Jan 21 and the file came back to me from president Feb 3.
"It was sent for further execution by me Feb 4 and the judiciary confirmed the date Feb 8 and the time was also confirmed."
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said he had been informed about the decision at 8 p.m. Friday.
The government's move, which came shortly ahead of budget session of parliament beginning Feb 21, was welcomed by the BJP that has been demanding that Afzal Guru be hanged. The Left welcomed it too.
With the opposition silenced somewhat in the last year of the UPA II government, ministers said the law had taken its course.
But rights activists and others said this was not so.
