Govt gets last chance to decide on mercy plea

The Supreme Court gave a last chance to the Centre to take a call on the mercy plea filed by Balwant S Rajoana for commuting the death penalty awarded to him in former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh's assassination case. A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde - which had earlier asked the government to decide Rajoana's mercy petition before the Republic Day - gave two more weeks after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the government was examining the issue. The Solicitor General said it would not be prudent to decide the matter at this juncture as it could have some repercussions in the present situation. As Mehta sought three weeks, the Bench agreed to grant two weeks as a last chance for the government.