Since his arrest in 1995 the due process was violated and he was tortured in custody to extract so-called confession. As per Amnesty International Professor Bhullar was denied fair trial in India. Even Justice M. B. Shah, presiding judge of SC three judges bench acquitted him. Justice M. B. Shah noted in his minority judgement that there were no reliable evidence against Professor Devender Pal Singh Bhullar.
Many domestic and international human rights organizations, NGOs, foreign diplomats and government officials and the European Parliament has asked India to halt execution of Professor Devender Pal Singh Bhullar and deal the case in a transparent manner.
His review petition remained pending with President of India for more than eight years and was ultimately rejected few months back. The Ministry of Home affairs ignored the set guidelines while recommending confirmation of death sentence for Prof. Bhullar.
Professor Bhullar’s wife as a last resort to avoid his execution moved to Supreme Court of India seeking clemency for Professor Bhullar on the grounds of undue delay in executions, prolonged detention after conviction and deteriorated health conditions.
Supreme Court is now hearing pleas of death row convicts on every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. SC listened the arguments of Government of India (GOI) last week and demanded recent report on health conditions of Professor Devender Pal Singh Bhullar.
Jasvir Singh Khandoor, Secretary of Akali Dal Panch Pardhani, who has reached Delhi to attend the court proceedings informed Sikh Siyasat that it is highly expected that Supreme Court of India may decided this case on one of the coming three days.