SC Issues Order Prescribing Fixed Timelines For Listing Of Death Penalty Criminal Appeals [Read Order]

The following are the prescribed Guidelines that have been formulated: -

1) In matters where Death Penalty has been upheld/confirmed and the Supreme Court has granted leave, the Appeal shall be listed not later than Six Months before a Three Judge Bench. Whether the appeal is ready or not shall be immaterial.

2) On filing of a Special Leave Petition involving death penalty, the Registry is required to immediately intimate to the Court appealed from so that the original record along with the Certificate of Service may be dispatched to the Supreme Court within a period of 60 (sixty) days or within such period as may be fixed by the court. Translated documents (if any), if they have been filed in vernacular languages, along with Petition, must also be dispatched top the Supreme Court.

3) Registry must insist on for filing of additional documents by the parties on grant of leave by the Court within a period of 30 (Thirty) days on receipt of such intimation by the Registry.

4) In case the records have not been received or the additional documents have not been filed within time, the matter may be listed before the Hon'ble Judge in Chambers along with office reports with requisite directions as against the existing practice of listing such matter before the Registrar's Court.

This is a significant development in the background of multiplicity of Litigation filed by the 2012 Delhi Gang Rape Convicts in various courts.

Last month, the Supreme Court had issued notice on an application filed by the Union of India before the Supreme Court, which had sought for the promulgation of fixed timelines and guidelines for speedy execution of Death Row Convicts.

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