Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar must be regretting the fact that he petitioned the Supreme Court against the Union government for keeping his mercy petition pending for nearly eight years. A Khalistani terrorist sentenced to death by in August 2001 for his role in crimes committed in 1991 and 1993, Bhullar had sought presidential pardon in 2003. But along with 27 other such petitions, his papers had been gathering dust in North Block all these years.