Who among the following has the power to grant Pardons as per the Constitution…

Correct answer: The President of India.

Constitutional basis: Article 72 of the Constitution empowers the President to grant pardons, reprieves, respites, remissions and to commute sentences.

• Scope: The President’s mercy power applies to cases involving offences under Union laws, sentences by court-martial, and cases where the sentence is death, among other situations covered by Article 72.

• Related state power: For offences against state laws, the Governor has a similar power under Article 161 of the Constitution.

Why other authorities listed are not correct:

• The Supreme Court: It is the highest court for judicial review and can set aside convictions or sentences through legal processes, but it does not have the constitutional power to grant pardons.

• Parliament: It is the legislative body that frames laws; Parliament does not grant individual pardons.

• Attorney General of India: The Attorney General is the chief legal advisor and government’s representative in courts, but has no executive authority to grant pardons.

Summary: The President’s power under Article 72 is the constitutional source of pardoning authority at the national level; state-level pardons are exercised by Governors under Article 161.