The Rashtrapati Bhavan today said, that the comments on the President’s actions to fulfill constitutional obligations to dispose of mercy petitions is unwarranted. An official release said that, a queer pitch has been created as though many brutal criminals have been shown mercy and released.

It maintainted that, to say that the President acted in haste or played to the gallery while handling mercy petitions is misconstrued. The President's house further clarified that by the exercise of the power of pardon, the President does not amend, modify or substitute the judicial decisions. And on receiving clemency, the death sentence gets commuted to imprisonment for the remainder of their natural lives.

It was also clarified that when the President, on the aid and advice of the government takes a reasoned decision to reject or accept the mercy petition, the President is discharging a constitutional obligation and not doling out generosity or acting to the contrary. The release also said, the allegation of non-application of mind in the disposal of mercy petitions is factually incorrect and misleading.