Why in the news: Supreme court of India on January 9, 2018 issued a notice to Government of India, to consider on alternate options of hanging in India keeping in mind the dynamic progress in modern science. In his oral affidavit the central government said that there are not any viable methods of hanging. As per the government, sometimes lethal injection has failed.
What is the issue: Honorable court was hearing a petition filled by Delhi High court lawyer Rishipal Malhotra. In his petition, Mr. Malhotra has sought the court’s intervention to reduce the suffering of condemned prisoners at the time of death. He argued that a convict should not be compelled to suffer at the time of termination of his or her life.
-His argue is based on the earlier observation of Supreme court, in which the court said that a condemned convict should die in peace and not in pain. A human being is entitled to dignity even in death. Mr. Malhotra argued that when a man is hanged to death, his dignity is destroyed.
Death penalty not in question: During hearing, however, the Supreme court clarified that it is not questioning the constitutionality of very death penalty, as it has been well-settled by the Supreme court, in Deena versus Union of India and in the Bachan Singh case reported in 1980.
Hanging method provision: Section 354 (5) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which mandates death by hanging, has already been upheld.
Methods of Capital Punishment in various countries
- Hanging: In 58 countries, including India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Bangladesh, Japan, Malaysia, South Korea.
- Lethal Injection: USA, China, Guatemala, Maldives, Thailand, Vietnam.
- Stoning: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Mauritania, Nigeria, UAE, Sudan, Yemen
- Beheading: Saudi Arabia.
-There is no capital punishment in 103 countries.
