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HC relief for Kolhapur sisters

Last Updated 20 August 2014, 18:57 IST

In a major relief for two Kolhapur sisters whose mercy pleas were recently rejected by the President, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday stayed their execution till disposal of their petition seeking commutation of death sentence to life imprisonment.

Admitting the petition of Renuka Shinde and Seema Gavit, a division bench of the court also directed the Centre and Maharashtra governments to explain within three weeks the reasons for the delay in deciding their mercy petitions.

Observing that the high court had powers under Article 226 of the Constitution to entertain the plea of the sisters who kidnapped children, made them beg and commit petty crimes before killing them, Justices V M Kanade and P D Kode ruled the petition was maintainable.

The court posted the next hearing on September 9 after the state government assured it will not go ahead with the execution.

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(Published 20 August 2014, 18:57 IST)

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