After the order was passed in the morning on November 18, the solicitor general had urged the bench that it should not be given effect as there were “sensitivities” involved in the issue.Mehta had told the top court that the file was with the home ministry and not the President.On September 25, the top court sought responses from the Centre, the Punjab government and the administration of the Union Territory of Chandigarh on Rajoana’s plea.The then Punjab chief minister and 16 others were killed in a blast at the entrance of the civil secretariat in Chandigarh on August 31, 1995.A special court sentenced Rajoana to death in July 2007.In his plea, Rajoana has sought the apex court’s direction to the respondent authorities to commute his death sentence “due to inordinate delay” in its execution and in deciding the “mercy petition filed on his behalf”.The plea said consequentially, a direction be issued for his release.
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