POWER OF PARDON
Pardoning power of President and Governor
Pardon means to forgive a person for the offence he has done. Under the Indian Constitution, the power to grant pardon has been conferred on the President of India under article 72 and the Governor of states under article 161.
The object behind pardoning power is to correct possible judicial errors and miscarriage of justice. It is a mean to prevent innocent from punishment.
Power of Pardon by President of India
Under article 72, the mercy petition is filed to the President, and his powers are as follows
1.Pardon
The President can totally absolve/acquit the person for the offence and let
him go free like an ordinary citizen.
2.Commutement
To reduce the type of punishment into a less harsh one. For example, Rigorous imprisonment to simple imprisonment.
3.Remission
To reduce the punishment without changing the nature of the punishment. For example, 20 years of rigorous imprisonment to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment.
4.Reprieve
A delay is allowed in the execution of a sentence, usually a death sentence for a guilty person to prove his innocence.
5.Respite
Reduce the degree of punishment looking at specific grounds like Pregnancy etc.
Note: The President can exercise the judicial powers at any stage, which means before, during, or after trial.
Difference Between the Pardoning Power of President and Governor
1.President can pardon the death sentence, but the Governor has no power to pardon the death sentence.
2.The President can pardon in case of court-martial. But the Governor
cannot pardon in a court-martial.
3.President exercises his judicial powers for the punishment which is given under the law made by the union. Whereas the Governor uses his judicial powers for the punishment, which is provided under the law made by the state.
Is the power to pardon given to the president absolute and does this power come under judicial review?
The pardoning power of the President is wider than that of a governor. The President can pardon, respite, reprieve, and remit even in death warrant and court-martial. However, no power is absolute.
If the power is given absolutely, it may give rise to arbitrariness.
Therefore the pardoning power of the President is subject to judicial review.
In the Epuru Sudhakar case, the Supreme Court ruled that to have a check on the pardoning power of the President; the judiciary can intervene to prevent him from doing arbitrary actions.
