V.SRIHARAN @ MURUGAN vs UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS

The Supreme Court addressed the issue of inordinate delay in deciding mercy petitions under Article 72 and Article 161 of the Constitution, which affects the fundamental rights of death row convicts. The Court reiterated its ruling in Shatrughan Chauhan & Anr. vs. Union of India, establishing that undue delay in execution constitutes torture and violates Article 21. The Court held that such delays can be grounds for commuting death sentences to life imprisonment, provided the delay is not attributable to the accused.