INDIA: PRESIDENT REJECTS LAST PENDING MERCY PLEA, DUO TO HANG

President Pranab Mukherjee rejected the mercy petitions of Shivu and Jadeswamy, who were sentenced to death in July 2005 for the rape and murder of an 18-year-old girl in October 2001.
In April 2013, Home Ministry had recommended rejection of their mercy petition, following which two new mercy petitions were filed on Shivu's behalf. Subsequently, the case was sent to the President in June. Mukherjee rejected the petition on the advice of the Home Ministry. However, on 21 August 2013, the execution of death row convicts Shivu and Jadeswamy which was scheduled for 22 August was stayed by the Supreme Court.
Earlier, on 22 July, Mukherjee had acted on similar advice by the government to reject the mercy petition of Maganlal Barela who was found guilty of murdering five of his daughters in June 2010. However, the hanging was stayed by the Supreme Court on 8 August 2013.
Since taking office, President Pranab Mukherjee has rejected mercy petitions of at least 19 people. Sources said there no more mercy petitions were pending with the President's office.