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Death Penalty

HC Rejects Petition Against Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana’s Death Sentence on Technical Ground

Punjab and Haryana High Court yesterday rejected a petition against death sentence announced to Sikh Political Prisoner Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana on technical grounds.

Institutional reforms, not death penalty, needed to end sexual violence: says Amnesty International India

In response to the Supreme Court’s verdict today in the 2012 Delhi bus gang-rape case, Amnesty International India said Institutional reforms, not death penalty, needed to end sexual violence.

Yasin Bhatkal, Four Others Awarded Death Penalty in Hyderabad Blast Case

A special court of NIA has reportedly sentenced Yasin Bhatkal and four others to death sentence punishment on Monday in a case related to twin blasts in Hyderabad in which 19 people were killed and 130 had sustained injuries.

SGPC Seeks Appointment from Indian President on Bhai Rajoana’s Death Sentence

The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) has written a letter to the Indian President- Pranab Mukharjee, seeking appointment to make his a request against the death sentence granted by Indian Courts to Sikh political prisoner Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana.

Rajoana’s Death Sentence: SGPC Seeks Time From Indian President to File Another Review Petition

SGPC has announced to Indian President to move another constitutional review petition against death sentence granted to Sikh political prisoner Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana.

World Day against the Death Penalty: 11 countries execute for drug-related crimes

The death penalty continues to be used as a tool in the so-called “war on drugs”, with an alarming number of states across the globe executing people convicted on drug-related charges, in clear violation of international law, Amnesty International said ahead of the World Day against the Death Penalty.

Hanging of Yakub Memon and Afzal Guru were politically motivated, says Justice AP Shah (retd)

Former Delhi High Court chief justice, Justice AP Shah, who recently retired as the chairman of the Law Commission, has said that the hanging of Afzal Guru and Yakub Memon were politically motivated.

Law Commission report must lead to abolition of death penalty in India: Amnesty

On 31 August, the Law Commission of India submitted a report to the Ministry of Law and Justice, in which it said that the administration of the death penalty in India is fallible, vulnerable to misapplication, and disproportionately used against socially and economically marginalized people.

Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana (quote from Will)

Balwant Singh Rajoana writes to Indian President; Questions delay in deciding his execution

Sikh political prisoners Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana who is facing death penalty in former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh assassination case has written a letter to the President of India.

Dal Khalsa terms the hanging of Yakub Memon as murder through judicial orders

Terming the hanging of Mumbai blast accused Yakub Memon as very disturbing development, Dal Khalsa slams Indian state for being arrogant and not listening to sane voices of reasoning and instead continuing with its capital punishment.

Amnesty India terms Execution of Yakub Memon as Cruel and Inhuman

The execution of Yakub Memon marks another disheartening use of the death penalty in India, Amnesty International India said today.

SCI rejected Yakub Memon’s petition at 5 am, Hanged at 6:30 am on his 53rd birthday

Indian Supreme Court held a mid-night hearing on Yakub Memon’s plea against execution of death sentence after the President of India rejected his review petition late last evening.

Yakub Memon’s plea against Death Warrants dismissed by SCI; Execution likely on July 30

Indian Supreme Court today rejected Yakub Memon’s petition seeking stay on execution of death warrants issued against him by an Indian court.

MPs, jurists, intellectuals petition India’s President against Yakub Memon’s hanging [Full Text]

A group of eminent jurists, MPs, leaders of political parties and eminent individuals from different walks of life submitted a petition to President Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday to request him to consider the mercy plea against the execution of the death sentence of Yakub Memon.

Travesty of justice in Yakub Memon’s case: Markandey Katju

I have carefully studied the judgment of the Court. The evidence on which he has been found guilty is very weak. This evidence is (1) retracted confession of the co-accused, and (2) alleged recoveries.

Execution of Yakub Memon will be regressive: Amnesty International India

The rejection of Yakub Memon’s curative petition in the Supreme Court today, paving the way for his imminent execution, is a disappointing and regressive step towards the continued use of the death penalty in India, said Amnesty International India.

Death warrants of Yakub Menon issued: Hanging likely on July 30

India may execute a death sentence convict on 30 July. A DD News report says that death warrant for the hanging of Yakub Memon have been issued.

Amnesty International to release annual death penalty report on April 01

On 1 April, Amnesty International will be launching this 2014 report on death penalty developments and statistics from across the globe.

Centre seeks fresh comments from Punjab, Chandigarh on Rajoana’s death sentence

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) India has written to the state governments of Punjab and 'Union Territory' (UT) of Chandigarh seeking fresh comments on the constitutional review petition moves against death sentence of Balwant Singh Rajoana. Bhai Rajoana is facing death sentence in Punjab CM Beant Singh assassination case.

Egypt confirms death sentences for 183 Muslim brotherhood members

An Egyptian court on today (Feb. 02) confirmed death sentences for 183 supporters of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood on charges of killing police officers, as authorities continued a crackdown on opponents, reported various news sources.

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