{"id":40144,"date":"2025-04-01T19:10:16","date_gmt":"2025-04-01T13:40:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=40144"},"modified":"2025-04-01T20:37:42","modified_gmt":"2025-04-01T15:07:42","slug":"maharashtra-mercy-petitions-dedicated-cell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/01-04-2025\/maharashtra-mercy-petitions-dedicated-cell","title":{"rendered":"Maharashtra Sets Up Dedicated Cell for Mercy Petitions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Syllabus: GS2\/ Polity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In News<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • The Maharashtra government formed a dedicated cell under the Additional Secretary (Home) <\/strong>for dealing with mercy petitions filed by death row convicts.\n
      \n
    • It was established on the direction of SC that all states set up such cells to avoid delays in the execution of death penalties, which it observed can have a “dehumanising effect” on convicts.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Mercy Petition<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      • What is a Mercy Petition?<\/strong>\n
          \n
        • A mercy petition is a formal request submitted by a convict (especially on death row or serving a long sentence) to seek clemency<\/strong>\u2014in the form of pardon, commutation, or remission\u2014from the President of India or the Governor of a State, as a last resort after all judicial remedies are exhausted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • No fixed time limit <\/strong>is prescribed for the President\u2019s decision on the mercy petition.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Constitutional & Legal Provisions: <\/strong>\n
            \n
          • The Constitution granted the President (Article 72) and Governor (Article 161) <\/strong>the power to grant pardons or commute sentences.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • In the Supreme Court\u2019s ruling in Maru Ram vs. Union of India (1981)<\/strong>, it was established that the President must act based on the Council of Ministers\u2019 advice in mercy petitions.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Philosophy Behind Mercy Petitions:<\/strong>\n
              \n
            • Right to Life (Article 21): <\/strong>Everyone has the fundamental right to life and personal liberty, guaranteed by Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.\n
                \n
              • A mercy petition seeks to uphold this right by allowing for compassionate reconsideration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Rec<\/strong>tification of Judicial Errors:<\/strong> Offers recourse when the judiciary may have overlooked evidence or erred.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • International Norms and Human Rights: <\/strong>Many global conventions, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, emphasize the right to life and human dignity.\n
                  \n
                • Mercy powers help nations adhere to these humanitarian standards.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                  Types of Pardoning Powers in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
                    \n
                  • Under Article 72 (President) and Article 161 (Governor)<\/strong>, the executive is empowered to grant clemency in various forms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
                    Type<\/strong><\/th>What Changes?<\/strong><\/th>Example<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
                    Pardon<\/strong><\/td>Cancels both conviction & sentence<\/td>Full forgiveness; treated as not guilty<\/td><\/tr>
                    Commutation<\/strong><\/td>Changes sentence to a lesser one<\/td>Death \u2192 Life imprisonment<\/td><\/tr>
                    Remission<\/strong><\/td>Reduces sentence duration<\/td>10 years \u2192 6 years<\/td><\/tr>
                    Respite<\/strong><\/td>Lesser punishment for valid reasons<\/td>A pregnant woman receives lighter punishment<\/td><\/tr>
                    Reprieve<\/strong><\/td>Delays execution temporarily<\/td>Time granted to file mercy petition<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

                    Comparison of Pardoning Powers of President & Governor<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
                    Aspect<\/strong><\/td>President (Article 72)<\/strong><\/td>Governor (Article 161)<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
                    Authority<\/strong><\/td>President of India<\/td>Governor of a State<\/td><\/tr>
                    Jurisdiction<\/strong><\/td>Offenses under Union laws, court-martial cases, and death penalty<\/td>Offenses under State laws<\/td><\/tr>
                    Military Law (Court-Martial)<\/strong><\/td>Can grant pardon or reduce sentence for military court convictions<\/td>No power in court-martial cases<\/td><\/tr>
                    Death Sentence<\/strong><\/td>Can grant pardon and commute a death sentence<\/td>Can only commute death sentence; cannot pardon it<\/td><\/tr>
                    Binding Advice<\/strong><\/td>Acts on the advice of the Council of Ministers at the Centre<\/td>Acts on the advice of the State Council of Ministers<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

                    Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
                      \n
                    • Mercy petitions and pardoning powers are essential checks and balances within India\u2019s justice system. They ensure that law is tempered with compassion, and justice doesn’t turn blind to human rights.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

                      Source: IE<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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