MUMBAI ATTACKS: KASAB GETS THE DEATH PENALTY
Judge M L Tahaliyani has awarded the death sentence to Pakistani terrorist, Ajmal Amir Kasab.
Kasab was given the death penalty on four counts including waging war on
As the sentence was announced, the Pakistani terrorist broke down in court and was seen in tears. He did not say anything even when the judge asked him to comment.
The judge said Kasab was a menace to society; he wanted to be a terrorist and he joined the LeT on his own account and not by any coercion. Judge Tahaliyani said there was no option but to award the death penalty to the Pakistani gunman.
Kasab will now set out on a long journey where legal and moral issues will be considered by authorities for years, even decades, before he is finally put to death.
Immediately after pronouncement of the death sentence judge Tahaliyani will have to send his order for confirmation to the Bombay HC. He is bound by the Section 366 of the Criminal Procedure Code to do so. In normal cases it is the convicted man who goes in appeal to the HC but where it is the case of his life being taken away, the trial court must send the case papers to the high court.
The Bombay HC will call for all the evidence and weigh it at its own discretion. It is a practice for the high court to be satisfied on the facts as well as the law of the case, that the conviction is right, before it proceeds to confirm the sentence. This could take a few months.
Even after the high court has given its nod to the death sentence, Kasab has the option of going in appeal to the Supreme Court. For instance last year Surinder Koli, the man whose death sentence in the Nithari case was confirmed by the Allahabad High Court, went in appeal to the Supreme Court. His petition is still pending. Similarly, Kasab's appeal too would be considered in detail by the highest court as it looks at all the arguments in favour of and against the death sentence.
Going by past record, the longest wait in execution of the death sentence will start once it is out of hands of the judiciary and into the domain of the government. After the Supreme Court too gives assent to the death sentence, Kasab will have the legal right to file a mercy petition before the President of India under article 72 of the Constitution. While this petition is pending Kasab's execution will stay suspended — maybe for decades.
The President's powers under Article 72 are always exercised with the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers. There is no time limit for how long this consultation takes place and the whole process can remain in abeyance for years. Currently mercy petitions of 32 death row convicts are pending decision with the President for over five years and the oldest mercy petition dates back to 1998.
