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PARDONING POWERS OF GOVERNOR

5th May, 2022

Copyright infringement not intended

 

Context - The Supreme Court advised the Union government to release the convict in the former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination case, as he already served a sentence of more than three decades.

 

Details

  • The Supreme Court has advised the Union government to act against the Tamil Nadu Governor who chose to “ignore” the State Cabinet’s binding advice to release a convict.
  • The Governor ignored the state cabinet's advice by highlighting that the President had the authority to decide on the mercy plea.

 

Governor

  • Part VI of the Indian Constitution deals with the State government.
  • Articles 153 to 167 in Part VI of the Constitution deal with the state executive. The state executive consists of;
    • The Governor
    • The Chief Minister
    • The Council of Ministers
    • The Advocate General of State.
  • The office of the governor has a dual role;
    • The Governor is the chief executive head of the State.
    • The Governor also acts as an agent of the central government.
  • Normally, there is a governor for each state, but the 7th Constitutional Amendment Act of 1956 enabled the appointment of the same person as a Governor for 2 or more states.
  • Governor is appointed by the president by warrant under his hand and seal.
    • It is an independent constitutional office and is not under the control of or subordinate to the Central government.

 

Pardoning Power of the Governor

  • Under Article 161 of the Indian Constitution, the Governor of a state can grant; Pardons, Reprives, Respites and Remissions of punishment or Suspend, Remit and Commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence against any State law.
  • Earlier, the Governor cannot pardon the death sentence that was the exclusive power of the Indian President. But in August 2021, the Supreme Court held that the Governor of a State can pardon prisoners; including death row ones, even before they have served a minimum of 14 years of a prison sentence.
  • Pardon;
    • It removes both the sentence and the conviction and completely forgives the convict from all sentences, punishments and disqualifications.
  • Commutation;
    • It denotes the substitution of one form of punishment for a lighter form.
    • For example, a death sentence may be commuted to life imprisonment.
  • Remission;
    • It indicates reducing the period of a sentence without changing its character.
    • For example, a sentence of imprisonment for two years may be remitted to imprisonment for one year.
  • Respite;
    • It suggests awarding a lesser sentence in place of originally awarded due to some special fact, such as the physical disability of a convict or the pregnancy of a woman offender.
  • Reprieve;
    • It means a stay of the execution of a sentence (especially that of death) for a temporary period.
    • Its purpose is to enable the convict to have time to seek pardon or commutation from the Governor/President.

Comparison between Pardoning Powers of President and Governor

President

Governor

·       Authority to pardon, reprieve, respite, remit, suspend, or commute the punishment or sentence of any person convicted of a violation of a Central law.

·       Authority to pardon, reprieve, respite, remit, suspend, or commute the punishment or sentence of anyone who has been convicted of an offence against state law.

·       Authority to pardon, reprieve, respite, remit, suspend, or commute a death sentence.

·       The sole authority to pardon a death sentence.

·       He is unable to pardon the death sentence. Even if a state law calls for the death penalty, the President, not the governor, has the authority to grant a pardon.

·       However, the governor has the authority to suspend, remit, or commute a death sentence.

·       Authority to grant pardon, reprieve, respite, suspension, remission, or commutation of punishment or sentence imposed by a court-martial (military court).

·       He doesn't have this kind of power.

 

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