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Bhullar, the Bogey of Human Rights, and the Death of Due Process

In Devender Singh Bhullar v. NCT, Delhi (“Bhullar”), decided in April, 2013, the Indian Supreme Court held that though normally delay in deciding a death row inmate's mercy petition may be a ground for commuting the death sentence, such commutation is not appropriate in 'terror' cases. This case comment analyses the Bhullar decision and argues that the judgment violates both binding precedent on the specific question of delays as a ground for commutation of a death sentence; as well as fundamental constitutional norms of due process enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution. The comment also points to the disturbing trend in all branches of the state of treating terror cases as exceptions to thA rule of law, a view that the Supreme Court appears to endorse in Bhullar.