382 convicts on death row in country's jails: Government

NEW DELHI: There are 382 convicts serving death sentence in the country, by the end of 2013, Lok Sabha was informed today.

Minister of State for Home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said in last 34 years about 123 mercy petitions were received under Article 72 of the Constitution for consideration of the President.

All these mercy petitions have been considered or disposed of except three -- Balwant Singh Rajoana of Chandigarh, Tote Dewan alias Man Bahadur Dewan of Assam and Antony of Kerala, he said in reply to a written question.

These petitions have been processed or submission to the President.

"Under Article 72 of the Constitution there is no limitation of time within which the power conferred may be exercised. However, the mercy petitions are disposed off as expeditiously as possible," he said.