To Fast Track Death Penalty Appeals : Supreme Court Sets Rules, 6-Month Deadline, 3-Judge Bench

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The Supreme Court has come out with guidelines for expeditious hearing of criminal appeals involving death penalty, a decision which comes against the backdrop of delay in execution of the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case.

The apex court has fixed a deadline of six months, from the date of the verdict of the high court, for hearing an appeal against the cases of death sentence.

In the circular, which was made public on Friday, it is mentioned that in a matter wherein the High Court has confirmed/ upheld death penalty and this court has granted leave (admission of case), the criminal appeals will be listed for hearing not later than six months before the three-judges bench from the date of grant of leave, irrespective of the fact that appeal is ready or not.

“As soon as the special leave petition involving death penalty is filed, a communication from the Registry may be sent to the court appealed from to make ready and dispatch to this court the certificate of service as well as the original record within a period of 60 days or within further such period fixed by court, after receipt of the intimation of the filing of such special leave petition along with the translation of the documents in vernacular language, if any,” the circular said.