New Delhi ( October 18, 2011 ): The Supreme Court of India is scheduled to hear the clemency plea of Professor Devinderpal Singh Bhullar on Wednesday, 19th of October. Bhullar has been on death row for more than eight years, after he was convicted, in 2001, by a designated TADA court for criminal conspiracy in a 1993 bomb blast case. His appeal was finally dismissed by the Supreme Court of India in 2003. Later a review petition against the death sentence was filed with the President of India under Article 72. Home Ministry of India took more than eight years to decide tender its’ advice to the President of India in this case. Delay in execution is now base of clemency plea filed by Bhullar’s wife in the Supreme Court.
Professor Devinderpal Singh Bhullar has already undergone more than 17 years in prison which exceeds the normal term of life imprisonment in India.
Recently, Amnesty International has maintained that Professor DPS Bhular was denied fair trial and appealed for cancellation of his death punishment.
It is notable that Bhullar is convicted on a defected statement extracted from Bhullar in Police custody under coercion and torture, and there is no other evidence against him, even India law do not recognize such statements as admissible in evidence. It is the only split decision of India where a person is sentenced to death despite the fact that he was acquitted by presiding judge of Supreme Court of India.