The Hindu : 'Death by injection the quickest'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 27, 2003

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'Death by injection the quickest'

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI APRIL 26. In its consultation paper on the execution of the death penalty for prisoners, the Law Commission of India has said that causing death by lethal injection is simple to execute. It takes only five to nine minutes to declare the prisoner dead; as unconsciousness takes place immediately after the application of anaesthesia, there is no pain.

Pointing out that this method is being followed in many developed countries, the Commission says death by lethal injection is now accepted to be the most civilised mode of execution of the death sentence.

Section 354 (5) of the Cr.P.C. says, "when any person is sentenced to death, the sentence shall direct that he be hanged by the neck till he is dead". And it takes 40 minutes to declare the death of the prisoner by hanging which involve intense physical pain and suffering.

According to the Commission, death penalty has been a mode of punishment since time immemorial. With the march of civilisation the modes of death punishment have witnessed significant changes all over the world but in India execution of death is being done by hanging for over 100 years.

Stressing the need for changing this practice, the panel feels that with technological advances in the fields of science, technology and medicine, a method which is certain, humane, quick and decent should be adopted.

Quoting the report of the Royal Commission on capital punishment that execution of the sentence should be less painful, quick and that there should be least mutilation of the body, the panel feels that death by lethal injection fulfils all the three requirements.

It has invited suggestions from Bar Associations and individual lawyers, human rights groups and others on this issue to enable it to take a final view on the subject and make appropriate recommendations to the Government.

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