New Delhi, India (March 11, 2014): It is learnt that the Supreme Court on Monday (March 10) adjourned the hearing of commutation plea of Sikh political prisoner and death row convict Professor Devender Pal Singh Bhullar till March 26 as Attorney General G. E. Vahanvati has sought more time on grounds that the government is yet to take a decision on second review petition filed before the President of India on Professor Devender Pal Singh Bhullar’s behalf.
“If you inform us (about the decision taken), it is well and good or we will decide the case,” the bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam told the A-G. The SCI bench was hearing curative petition moved by Prof. Bhullar’s wife seeking correction of April 12, 2013 decision of the SCI rejecting Prof. Bhullar’s commutation plea.
The Centre had earlier assured the Supreme Court that Prof. Bhullar shall not be executed till any decision is taken on 2nd review petition by the President of India.
The government has also informed the court that the Home Ministry was looking at the Delhi Lieutenant Governor’s recommendation that death sentence of Prof. DPS Bhullar be commuted.