The Supreme Court has rejected the convict Mukesh plea seeking judicial review of the rejection of his mercy petition by the President. The apex court said, “Alleged sufferings in jail can’t be grounds to challenge the rejection of mercy plea by President,”.
With this decision by the top court, Mukesh has exhausted the last legal remedy available to him against the death sentence. A bench comprising Justices R. Banumathi, Ashok Bhushan and A.S. Bopanna said that all the relevant documents connected with the case were placed before the President and then a decision was taken on his mercy petition.
The court observed that the alleged ill-treatment and cruelty in jail is no ground to grant mercy to the convict. Also, Mukesh”s counsel”s contention that there was non-application of mind while rejecting his mercy petition was rejected by the court. “President has acted expeditiously is no ground to hold that there was non-application of mind,” said the court.
