After the judge pronounced the order, the three accused broke down and started sobbing in the court.
Some of the lawyers, who in the past worked with Jethmalani, described him as an 'icon and legend of the law', and said his humility touched all the sections of society.
A Special MCOCA court has convicted 12 of the 13 accused in the July 11, 2006 Mumbai suburban train bombings in which 188 people were killed.
Special Public Prosecutor Raja Thakare said that he would not pray for death at all.
"Considering their role, eight convicts deserve death penalty," the prosecution told the court.
Pronouncing the verdict, the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court judge Yatin Shinde sentenced to death Faisal Sheikh, Asif Khan, Kamal Ansari, Ehtesham Sidduqui and Naveed Khan who planted the bombs in various trains.