“Why No Hanging Yet?” — Supreme Court Slams Centre Over 30-Year Delay in Beant Singh Assassination Case

New Delhi, September 24, 2025 — The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday raised tough questions to the Central Government in the case of Balwant Singh Rajoana, a convict sentenced to death for the 1995 assassination of Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh.

The court asked directly: “Why has he not been hanged till now? Who is to blame for this delay?” This strong remark came during the hearing of Rajoana’s plea to commute his death sentence to life imprisonment. The Centre argued that the offence was “serious,” but the judges were not satisfied with this explanation.

The Assassination of Beant Singh

On 31 August 1995, a devastating bomb blast took place outside the Punjab and Haryana Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh. Then Chief Minister Beant Singh, along with 16 others, was killed in the explosion. The attack was carried out by Dilawar Singh Babbar, a suicide bomber who detonated the explosives hidden in his car.

Balwant Singh Rajoana, a member of the Babbar Khalsa group, was the backup bomber. His role was to step in if the suicide plan failed. Investigations revealed that the killing was part of a larger plan by militants who wanted to take revenge on Beant Singh for his tough action against terrorism in Punjab.

The assassination shook the state and the country. It reminded people of the dark days of militancy in Punjab. Law and order faced a major challenge at that time, and many feared that Punjab would again slip into unrest.

Rajoana’s Trial and Death Sentence

In 2007, a special CBI court convicted Rajoana under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Explosives Act. He was sentenced to death by hanging. Unlike many other convicts, Rajoana did not appeal against his death penalty in higher courts. He openly admitted his involvement and refused to seek mercy at that stage.

Over time, however, Sikh bodies, especially the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), stepped in. In 2012, the SGPC filed a mercy petition on his behalf. They argued that hanging Rajoana would hurt Sikh sentiments, as many considered him a “sikh of principles” who took responsibility for his role.

The petition went to the President of India but has remained pending for more than a decade. Meanwhile, Rajoana has been in jail for nearly 30 years, with more than 15 years on death row.

Delay in Decision: Centre vs. Court

During Wednesday’s hearing, the Supreme Court bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N. V. Anjaria pressed the Centre about the “inordinate delay.”

Additional Solicitor General K. M. Nataraj, appearing for the government, said the case involved the murder of a sitting Chief Minister and was therefore of the “highest seriousness.” But the bench was unimpressed.

The judges replied, “If it was such a serious offence, you should have executed him. Why delay it for so long?”

They reminded the Centre that there was never a stay on Rajoana’s execution. The court also made it clear that it would not grant adjournments again and asked the Centre to present a concrete stand by October 15, 2025.

Arguments from Rajoana’s Side

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Rajoana, said that his client has been in jail for almost three decades. Keeping him on death row for such a long period, Rohatgi argued, was itself a form of cruelty and violated his fundamental right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.

He pointed out that Rajoana has been waiting endlessly, and the government keeps giving assurances but takes no decision. He even raised concerns about whether Rajoana was being kept in solitary confinement and what effect this long delay had on his mental health.

Rohatgi reminded the court that in earlier cases, such as Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, the Supreme Court commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment because the government delayed acting on the mercy petition.

The Centre’s Dilemma

The Centre finds itself caught in a political and legal dilemma. On one hand, the assassination of Beant Singh was a terrorist act that shook the country, and many feel that the strictest punishment is justified. On the other hand, there is strong demand from sections of the Sikh community to commute Rajoana’s sentence.

In 2019, the government even announced that Rajoana’s sentence would be commuted to life as part of celebrations of Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary. However, the decision was never carried out, possibly due to fears of political backlash from other quarters.

Key Legal Issues

1. Delay as Cruelty: Long delay in executing a death sentence is itself considered a ground for commuting it. The question is whether 15 years on death row makes the sentence unfair.
2. Seriousness of the Crime: The murder of a Chief Minister in a terror plot is no ordinary case. The Centre insists that such crimes cannot be treated lightly.
3. Who Filed the Petition: Interestingly, Rajoana himself never asked for mercy. The SGPC filed it. But courts in the past have held that anyone can submit a mercy plea, and the government is bound to consider it.
4. Mental Health and Prison Conditions: Concerns about Rajoana’s mental state and solitary confinement may influence the court’s decision, since human rights are also at stake.

The Road Ahead

The next hearing is set for October 15, 2025. The Supreme Court has warned that it will not accept further delays. The Centre must now take a clear stand — either move forward with execution or decide on commuting the sentence.

The case has become more than just a legal battle. It is also about how India balances justice, politics, and human rights. For many, the hanging of Rajoana would be justice for Beant Singh’s killing. For others, the long delay makes execution meaningless and cruel.

The Supreme Court’s strong words show that it will not allow the case to drift any longer. Whatever the outcome, the final decision will have a deep impact on the debate over the death penalty and mercy petitions in India.