In Brief
Akshay Kumar Singh, a death-row convict, filed a writ petition challenging the President of India's rejection of his mercy petition, arguing that settled principles for considering mercy petitions were not followed. He raised grounds including alleged torture in prison, media interviews of officials influencing the decision, and his wife's pending divorce petition. The Supreme Court held that judicial review of the President's decision on mercy petitions is limited and available only on specific grounds, including non-application of mind, mala fides, or extraneous considerations. The Court found no such defects and held that prison conditions, media interviews, and subsequent events like divorce petitions are irrelevant. The petition was dismissed.
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