SC Directs Listing Of Death-Row Convicts’ Challenge To In Limine Dismissal Of Appeals After The Vacation [Read Order]

The Supreme Court’s Vacation Bench of Justices D.Y.Chandrachud and Sanjay Kishan Kaul, today directed the listing of writ petitions filed by two death-row convicts, Babu @ Ketan and Sanni, challenging the Supreme Court Rules, which facilitate in limine dismissals of appeals against death sentence by the Supreme Court, before a three-Judge Bench, during the first week after the summer vacation.

READ: SC Agrees To Hear Death Row Convicts’ Writ Petition Seeking Stay On Hanging

Although the senior counsel, Salman Khurshid, asked for a specific stay  on their hanging following the rejection of their mercy petitions by the President on May 25, the bench assured the counsel, that since the  Court is seized of the matter, there will be no adverse consequence.

However, the bench found the matter as of considerable importance, and listed it before a three-Judge bench immediately after the summer vacation.

READ: President Rejects Mercy Petitions of Five Death-Row Convicts In Two Days

The two-Judge Vacation Bench was reluctant to deal with the matter, as their appeals were dismissed in limine by a three Judge bench of the then Chief Justice H.L.Dattu, and justices A.K.Sikri and R.K.Agrawal on January 6, 2015.