SC seeks MHA's response on plea for timely disposal of mercy pleas in death row cases

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday sought a detailed response from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in four weeks on a petition seeking timely disposal of mercy plea in death row cases.

A bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde, sought a detailed response from the MHA within four weeks on the matter.

The apex court wanted to know as to whether there was a timeline for the MHA to put the mercy plea before the President, for which Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought time to come back with a response.

The top court was hearing a petition filed by one Shiv K Tripathi claiming that there is no guideline for the MHA to place the mercy plea before the President of India in a fixed time period.