Centre opposes commutation of death sentence for 1995 Punjab bombing convict

The Centre has argued before India's apex court that the current circumstances are not conducive to granting relief to Rajoana, who was convicted for his role in the August 31, 1995 suicide bombing outside the Punjab Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh. The attack claimed multiple lives and remained a significant incident during Punjab's period of militancy.

Rajoana, who was serving as a constable in the Punjab Police when he carried out the bombing, has remained on death row for nearly three decades. His legal team has pursued various remedies, including mercy petitions and constitutional challenges, arguing for commutation of the capital sentence.

The government's opposition to the commutation plea sets the stage for the Supreme Court to weigh competing considerations, including the severity of the crime, the passage of time, and established legal precedents governing death penalty cases. The court's decision will have implications for how similar cases involving politically motivated violence are adjudicated.

The matter underscores the continuing legal and constitutional debates surrounding capital punishment in India, particularly in cases linked to separatist movements that marked Punjab's recent history. Legal experts have noted that such cases often attract intense scrutiny from both civil liberties advocates and security establishment perspectives.