<p>A bench of justices G S Singhvi and S J Mukhopadhya passed the direction while dealing with the plea filed by Punjab terrorist Devender Pal Singh Bhullar challenging the 8- year delay by the Centre in deciding his mercy petition.<br /><br />The apex court asked Additional Solicitor General Harin Rawal to file a compilation of the petitions before it and also appointed senior counsel Ram Jethmalani and T R Andhiarujina as amicus curiae to assist the court on the issue.<br /><br />The bench said it wanted to expand the scope of the petition since not every convict can afford the legal expenses of senior lawyers.<br /><br />"There may be some who can afford to have senior lawyers. But there are number of people who are not represented before us. We would like Mr Rawal to file a compilation of the number of such mercy petitions before the president and the governors," the bench said while passing the direction.<br /><br />The bench wanted the additional solicitor general to file the status report relating the date from which the mercy petitions are pending at different stages.<br /><br />According to a report submitted by the Centre, 17 mercy petitions are pending before the President.<br /><br />Bhullar was awarded death penalty for triggering a blast here in September 1993 killing nine people and injuring to 29 others which was aimed at Youth Congress leader M S Bitta.</p>
<p>A bench of justices G S Singhvi and S J Mukhopadhya passed the direction while dealing with the plea filed by Punjab terrorist Devender Pal Singh Bhullar challenging the 8- year delay by the Centre in deciding his mercy petition.<br /><br />The apex court asked Additional Solicitor General Harin Rawal to file a compilation of the petitions before it and also appointed senior counsel Ram Jethmalani and T R Andhiarujina as amicus curiae to assist the court on the issue.<br /><br />The bench said it wanted to expand the scope of the petition since not every convict can afford the legal expenses of senior lawyers.<br /><br />"There may be some who can afford to have senior lawyers. But there are number of people who are not represented before us. We would like Mr Rawal to file a compilation of the number of such mercy petitions before the president and the governors," the bench said while passing the direction.<br /><br />The bench wanted the additional solicitor general to file the status report relating the date from which the mercy petitions are pending at different stages.<br /><br />According to a report submitted by the Centre, 17 mercy petitions are pending before the President.<br /><br />Bhullar was awarded death penalty for triggering a blast here in September 1993 killing nine people and injuring to 29 others which was aimed at Youth Congress leader M S Bitta.</p>