The Supreme Court on Friday issued guidelines regarding the listing of criminal appeals against High Court orders involving the death penalty.
The apex court has fixed a deadline of six months, from the date of the verdict of the high court, for hearing an appeal against the cases of a death sentence. The criminal appeal will be listed for hearing before a three-judge bench.
The guidelines to expedite the hearing comes against the backdrop of delay in execution of the four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case.
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As soon as an SLP (appeal against High Court order) involving death penalty is filed, a communication from the Registry may be sent to the court appealed from, seeking certificate of service as well as original record within a period of 30 days from the receipt of such intimation or further within such period as may be directed by the Court.
The record will be sent along with the translated copy of the documents which may be in vernacular language, guidelines issued by the Office Order of February 12 said.
As soon the Supreme Court admits the appeal, the Registry may insist for filing of additional documents by the parties within a period of 30 days after the receipt of intimation in this regard.
The guidelines further said that in the event records or additional documents have not been received/filed, the matter may be listed before Judges concerned in Chambers with appropriate office report for directions, instead of listing the matter before the Registrar Court as per the existing practice.
(With inputs from ANI)