MURDERERS CASES

REJECTING AFZAL PLEA

It refers to Supreme Court rejecting Afzal Guru’s curative petition against death-sentence confirmed earlier by the Apex Court. Controversies apart, curative petition with plea of not getting lawyers of his choice need not be entertained because the lawyers now expressing solidarity with Afzal Guru could better take up his case at initial stage in the Apex Court. It is not correct that an accused may try to show himself a martyr by not pleading his case properly at the appropriate stage, but may file curative petition later after being convicted. Such drama to prolong cases with death-penalty not only involves valuable time of court, but also creates unnecessary emotions and provocation amongst those against death-penalty.

Rather system in case of death-penalties should be to reduce time at every appeal-stage including pardon-petition with the President to just 30 days with an effort to decide the issue ultimately within one year of trial-court verdict.



SUBHASH CHANDRA AGRAWAL

1775 Kucha Lattushah

Dariba DELHI 110006 (India)