The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the execution of Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case while admitting his petition challenging the death sentence awarded to him by a trial court as well as the Bombay high court.
A bench comprising Justice Aftab Alam and Justice C.K.
Prasad admitted his petition with the poser whether Kasab actually “deserved” the consideration of his petition.
“Does your man (Kasab) deserve it? Many people think he does not deserve it,” was the poser by the court to senior advocate Raju Ramachandran, appointed to assist it in the adjudication of Kasab’s appeal.
Mr Ramachandran said people might think so but the “due process of law” requires that his appeal has to be heard. Responding to his reply, Justice Aftab Alam, heading the bench, said, “I am glad you (counsel for both sides — Maharashtra and amicus curiae) have accepted it (following due process of law). God knows we do our best to maintain the rule of law. At times we have to suffer and that is the price we pay for maintaining the supremacy of the law.”