The Supreme Court today sought Centre's response on a petition seeking time bound disposal of mercy plea of death row convicts filed before the President.

A bench of justices B S Sudershan Reddy and S S Nijjar issued notice to the government on a PIL filed by an NGO seeking framing of guidelines by the court for the timely disposal of mercy plea of convicts.

The bench asked the government to file its response within four weeks on why such plea should not be disposed of in a fixed time.

The petitioner NGO Justice on Trial Trust, contended that there is a huge backlog of mercy petitions pending before the President due to lack of its time bound disposal by the authorities.

It contended that it is not only traumatic for the convict seeking mercy but it also undermines the justice delivery system of the country.