The Supreme Court will hear on March 18 the request of convict Balwant Singh Rajoana to convert his death sentence to life imprisonment in the murder case of former Punjab CM Beant Singh. On Wednesday (February 18, 2026), the Supreme Court heard the appeal of Balwant Singh Rajoana, in which he has requested to convert his death sentence to life imprisonment due to the delay in the decision on the mercy petition.
Balwant Singh Rajoana has been in jail for more than 29 years, out of which he has spent more than 15 years as a death row prisoner. The lawyer appearing for the central government told the bench of Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice NV Anjaria that he needed some time in this matter.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Balwant Singh Rajoana, cited the Supreme Court’s order dated September 24, 2025 in which it was said that no further request for adjournment from the defendants will be considered.
The Supreme Court said, ‘The case will be heard on March 18.’ The Supreme Court had earlier asked the Central Government to take a decision on the mercy petition of Balwant Rajoana. Citing the sensitivity of the case, the Center had then said that the mercy petition is under consideration.
In September 2024, the Supreme Court had sought response from the Centre, Punjab Government and the administration of Chandigarh Union Territory on the petition of Balwant Singh Rajoana. Former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh and 16 others were killed in a blast at the entrance of the Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh on 31 August 1995. A special court had sentenced Balwant Singh Rajoana to death in July 2007.
Balwant Singh Rajoana had filed a petition demanding directions for his release. The Supreme Court on May 3, 2023, refused to reduce his death sentence and said that the competent authority can consider his mercy petition.
In his new petition, Balwant Singh Rajoana said that he has spent 28.8 years in jail, of which more than 15 years have been spent as a death row prisoner.
It was said in the petition that Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee had presented a mercy petition under Article 72 in March 2012 and requested for clemency on his behalf. The petition states that more than a year has passed since the Supreme Court directed the competent authority to consider the mercy petition filed by him within a reasonable time and take a further decision.
