It also asserted that the case will be fast-tracked and the Pakistani terrorist will be hanged in the next one year.

Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said even if the case goes to the higher courts, it will be heard speedily and the killer will be hanged “in the next one year.”

Kasab, the only terrorist to be caught alive, has been pronounced guilty of killing innocent people in the 26/11 attack and sentenced to death by hanging by a special court in Mumbai recently. The case will now go to the Bombay High Court.

Moily said that if Kasab appealed against his death sentence then it would be fast tracked and the Pakistani terrorist hanged in a year. “Kasab committed a barbaric act in front of so many witnesses,” the minister added.

Union Home Secretary G K Pillai took a slightly different stand as he remarked:“It all depends whether he is going to file appeal in the High Court and the Supreme Court... and then the mercy petition. If he doesn’t file any appeal anywhere, I think the chances of him getting hanged this year are quite high.”

 He added: “If there is no petition from him (Kasab) challenging the sessions court verdict in the higher court...he can be hanged by year-end.”

Both Moily and Pillai were speaking to TV news channels separately. Asked about the status of Parliament attack case convict Afzal Guru’s mercy petition, Pillai said: “It is with the government for consideration.”