Delay in deciding mercy pleas will be grounds for commuting death sentences: Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has commuted the sentences of 15 death row convicts, ruling that delays in their execution were grounds to change their sentences to life imprisonment. Today's verdict was based on an appeal by four members of the gang led by notorious sandalwood smuggler Veerappan. They filed their mercy petition in 2004 and nine years later, their appeal was rejected. (Read more)
