Death row convict may be heard in open court: SC

The Supreme Court Tuesday held that in the cases where the death sentence has been upheld by the apex court, the death convict will have a right that his petition seeking review of the verdict upholding death sentence will be heard by the three judges bench in an open court and he will be accorded half an hour hearing.

The apex court constitution bench headed by Chief Justice R.M. Lodha said that in the review petition that have already been decided and rejected, but the death sentence has not been carried out, the convict may come back seeking the open court hearing of a review petition by a three judges bench and he getting half an hour to address the court.

However, in the cases, where the curative petition has already been decided, the death row convict will not have this opportunity to avail.

The constitution bench verdict came on a batch of petitions seeking that their plea for the recall of verdict upholding their death sentence should be heard in the open court by a three judges bench.

As of now the review plea of death row convicts were being considered by the judges in their chambers through circulation.