Time bound decision on mercy petitions a must

Congress General Secretary Digvijaysingh who is known for remaining in news for his controversial statements, has at last talked sensibly when he rightly favoured time-bound decision on mercy petitions pending before President of India.

There exists a unique example where one Ravji of Rajasthan was finally hanged within even less than three years of having committed the crime, after crossing all stages of trial from trial-court to Supreme Court. Even his mercy-petition was decided to be rejected by President of India within record six days. He murdered all his family-members on night of 6-7th May 1993, and was finally hanged on 04th May 1996.

Even convicted persons like even Afzal Guru feel that waiting for decision on a mercy petition in solitary prison-cell is worse than being hanged. Delay in deciding on mercy-petitions creates unnecessary emotions and provocation, apart from diluting fear against committing the crime. Rule should be to finally decide on mercy-petitions within three months of filing with hanging done within one week of rejection of mercy-petition.