V. Sriharan alias Murugan v. Union of India and Others
Background
Three death-row prisoners challenged execution after their presidential mercy petitions remained pending for more than eleven years. The government attributed part of the delay to a file left unattended and could not explain the remainder. The prisoners sought commutation on the ground that the prolonged executive delay violated their fundamental rights.
Decision Breakdown
The Court commuted all three death sentences to life imprisonment because the delay was inordinate, unexplained and not caused by the prisoners. It rejected the argument that they also had to prove particular physical or psychological harm: such delay itself made the execution procedure unfair and unreasonable. The decision concerned a later constitutional violation, rather than reconsidering guilt or the original sentence on its merits. Life imprisonment continued for the prisoners' lives, subject to lawful remission by the appropriate government and the statutory checks governing that power.
Lesson Learnt
Death-row prisoners retain the right to a fair procedure while mercy petitions are considered. Unjustified executive delay can warrant commutation, but commutation to life imprisonment does not itself order immediate release.