The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the death sentence awarded to Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone gunman captured alive during the November 26-29, 2008 Mumbai terror attack that left 166 people dead, including a number of foreigners.
A notice has been forwarded to the Moharashtra government.
Kasab had filed the petition through jail authorities in the apex court which had appointed senior advocate Raju Ramachandaran as amicus curie to assist it in deciding the appeal.
A bench of justices Aftab Alam and Ranjana Prakash Desai heard the appeal.
On September 2, the apex court had agreed to hear the plea of Maharashtra government against the acquittal of two accused Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed in the 26/11 case.
It, however, had refused to pass any order on Kasab when the state government pleaded that his letter to the Supreme Court challenging his death sentence should be tagged with this appeal.
The Bombay high court had in its February 21 verdict upheld the trial court order of death sentence of Kasab for the 'brutal and diabolical' attacks aimed at ‘destabilising’ the government.
Kasab's death penalty was upheld on charges of criminal conspiracy, waging war against the nation, IPC section related to murder and under sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.