The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to explain the delay of over eight years in deciding the mercy plea of terrorist Devender Pal Singh Bhullar.

Bhullar was awarded death penalty for triggering a bomb blast in Delhi in September 1993 and targeting the cavalcade of then Youth Congress President Maninderjit Singh Bitta, killing nine people.

A Bench of the apex court asked the Centre to file an affidavit by the 10th of next month.