Judgment

ORDER:- Rule Nisi. We direct that the Writ Petition be placed for final hearing in the second week of January, 1982. The petitioner and the respondents will file their written submissions on or before the 4th January, 1982. We stay the execution of the death sentence imposed upon the petitioner Kuljeet Singh @ Ranga as also on the co-accused Billa. We appoint Shri R. K. Jain as amicus curiae on behalf of Billa.

2. Since the Special Leave Petition filed by the petitioner and a Writ Petition filed by him thereafter against the order of conviction and sentence have already been dismissed by us, it would be necessary to state briefly the reasons why we are issuing a Rule on the present Writ Petition.

3. Shri R. K. Garg. who appears on behalf of the petitioner, contends that the power conferred by Article, 72 of the Constitution on the President of India to grant pardons, reprieves respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence, especially in a case where the sentence is one of death, is a power coupled with a duty which must be exercised fairly and reasonably. We do not know whether the Government of India has formulated any uniform standard or