SC to hear plea of death row convicts

The Supreme Court on Monday decided to hear a petition filed by two death row convicts from Karnataka seeking immediate stay on their execution.

The mercy plea of convicts Shivu and Jadeswamy, lodged in Hindalaga jail in Belgaum were dismissed by the President last week. They were held guilty for rape and murder of an 18-year-old girl.

The counsel representing them mentioned their case before a bench presided over by Chief Justice P Sathasivam, who fixed the matter for consideration on Wednesday.

He pleaded that, according to his information, both the petitioners could be executed on the morning of August 22. The bench then fixed their plea for hearing on August 21.

Both the convicts sought a stay on their execution on the ground of inordinate delay in deciding their mercy plea. The convicts belonging to Bhadrayyanahalli in Kollegal taluk in Chamarajanagar district had raped and murdered the 18-year-old girl on October 15, 2001. 

They were arrested on a complaint filed by the victim who had bitten the hands of the victims. The Karnataka High Court had awarded them death penalty in November 2005. The apex court had in 2007 upheld the judgment.
The Home Ministry in April this year had recommended the rejection of their mercy petition.