"I am happy that the long process has come to an end. The convict was given opportunity for 22 years. Memon's review petition and mercy petitions were dismissed. He also got the right to have second review plea heard in an open court," Rohatgi told PTI.
Explaining the opportunities given to Memon and all the legal remedies exhausted by him, Rohatgi said, "A curative petition was filed and was dismissed on July 21, this year. A new writ petition was heard from July 27 till yesterday. Even the Maharashtra Governor and the President rejected his clemency pleas again. Then fresh petitions were moved at midnight in the Supreme Court and that ultimately culminated into this."
"Esteem of the apex court has risen tremendously. In an unprecedented hearing, it heard a case at 3 am because the hanging was due for 7 am, notwithstanding the fact that the bench had heard the plea of the convict from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm yesterday after giving hearing to both sides," he said.
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Reacting to the concern that all convicts facing death penalty cases could now demand an all night hearing just hours before execution, both the former and the present Attorney Generals termed it a case which required such a move by the apex court and said all cases are different.
"Unprecedented hearings have occurred in the past also. SC does not make descriminations, it has upheld the majesty of law. This last minute hearing was agreed to by the SC because of the convict's latest mercy petitions which were moved yesterday," Rohatgi said, adding "It is unfortunate that there was no other way in this case."