The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the death sentence which was awarded to Ajmal Kasab, the sole gunman captured alive on November 26-29, 2008 Mumbai terror attack.
An Apex Court bench consisting of Justices Aftab Aslam and C.K. Prasad stayed the death sentence till it hears his petition challenging his conviction and death sentence.
At the outset of hearing, Justice Aftab Aslam has said that they have to afford him full opportunity to defend himself as provided in the judicial system.
The court said that this is the price that they had to pay so as to uphold the supremacy of law.
Senior Counsel Raju Ramachandran, who has been appointed as the amicus curie (friend of the court) so as to defend Kasab said that the people might believe it otherwise, but the due process of law demands that the accused has to be given full opportunity to defend his case in the highest court.
Kasab was one of then ten Pakistanis who illegally sailed to India from Pakistan and launched the 26-29 mayhem killing 166 people, including many foreigners.
He was awarded death sentence by a Mumbai Trial Court on May 6, 2010. Besides other charges, he was also convicted for waging war against the nation. The Bombay High Court upheld the verdict.
News reported by AR for Newvision
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