Centre opposes Rajoana death commutation, cites Punjab situation; SC to hear plea on merits

By Neeraj Bali Chandigarh, Oct 8 (UNI) The Centre has opposed death-row convict Balwant Singh Rajoana's bid to have his sentence commuted to life imprisonment in the 1995 assassination of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, prompting the Supreme Court to say it will now examine the demand on its merits. The development marks a significant turn in the decades-old case, with Rajoana no longer merely seeking a decision on a mercy petition pending since 2012 but pressing the Supreme Court itself to commute his death sentence on the ground of prolonged delay. A three-judge bench, headed by Justice Vikram…