Karnataka HC Stays Execution Of Ex-Cop BA Umesh

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday stayed the execution of death sentence of BA Umesh Reddy pending disposal of his writ petition challenging the rejection of his mercy petitions by the President.

The division bench comprising Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice Budihal directed the state and Central governments to file responses in 10 days.

Speaking to LiveLaw, Umesh’s lawyer BN Jagadeesha said:

“The petition has been filed based on the Supreme Court judgment in Shatrughan Chauhan vs Union of India in which the apex court issued guidelines for the disposal of mercy petitions. In this case, there are clear violations of the guidelines.”

He cited that there was an excessive delay of two years and three months in the disposal of mercy petition filed by Umesh’s mother before the President. It was also pleaded that Umesh had been behind the bars for over 18 years, including a period of solitary confinement lasting 10 years, which has led to a huge psychological impact on the prisoner, who is currently on anti-psychotic medication.

Early this month, a Supreme Court Bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi confirmed the death penalty imposed on rape-cum-murder convict Umesh, by dismissing his review petition against the dismissal of appeals by the apex court in 2011.

This article has been made possible because of financial support from Independent and Public-Spirited Media Foundation.