In the country, death row prisoners are given death sentence. The process of hanging takes a lot of time and is also more painful. In view of this, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court requesting to change the method of death penalty. But the central government is not ready to change it at present. Expressing displeasure over this, the court said that the government should change with time.
Meanwhile, the question is arising that in most of the countries including America, death penalty by giving poisonous injection is considered to be an easier and more humane method, so what is the problem here?
on wednesday Supreme Court Expressed displeasure over the old attitude of the Centre. In fact, these days a hearing is going on on a PIL, in which there is a suggestion to give the option of dying to death row prisoners. The prisoner should have the right to choose between hanging or lethal injection. The lawyer presenting the petition argued that lethal injections take effect very quickly, and death can occur within a few minutes. This is a more respectable and humane way.
On the other hand, there are many problems with hanging. First of all, there are very few people trained for hanging. This task cannot be entrusted to less trained hands because once the execution fails, the prisoner cannot be punished otherwise, no matter how brutal the crime he has committed. In the language of law this is called prohibition of double punishment. If the attempt fails, the prisoner will have to be released, which is a big threat to the society.
Now coming to the human angle. The death sentence is announced, but a lot of preparation takes place for it. Till then the prisoner waits for death every day while in jail. This death warrant is inhumane in itself.
As far as the process is concerned, this is the thing due to which many countries have abolished death penalty in their countries. When someone is hanged, a rope is put around his neck and the plank below is dropped. Its purpose is to break the neck bone immediately so that death occurs instantly. But sometimes the bone does not break completely. In such a situation the criminal dies a slow and painful death. Sometimes it takes from ten minutes to half an hour. The prisoner continues to struggle for that long.
In many countries, lethal injection became an alternative to capital punishment and gradually remained the same. In this process, three medicines are usually given to the death row inmate.
The first injection causes unconsciousness.
Secondly the muscles stop working.
The third and last dose stops the heartbeat.
During this the prisoner is made to sit comfortably on a chair. He is counseled and every effort is made to keep him calm. Since death occurs within two to three minutes, the prisoner does not have to suffer that much.
But it also has flaws
Only a trained medical professional is required to give the injection. If the person giving the injection is even weak or less trained, the injection may take place in the wrong vein. If the medicine is not in the right quantity, the prisoner feels a burning sensation and suffocation inside, but he is unable to speak because his body is numb. Although such mistakes happen rarely, but if they happen then death becomes as painful as hanging.
For all these reasons, most countries adopted poisonous injections because it is a quick process and looks cleaner and less cruel.
Many countries have abolished the death penalty, but wherever capital punishment is legal, including America, lethal injection has replaced hanging.
In the PIL going on here, it was argued that the right to a dignified death is given in Article 21 of the Constitution. It says that first of all no one’s life can be taken. Only law can take a decision on this. And if death penalty or mercy killing has to be given then it should be done in a maximum non-violent manner.
what is the government argument
In the hearing held on Wednesday, the Center said that this is a policy matter. This means that this matter cannot be decided by the court, rather the government will think on it. Meaning, if any new method is to be adopted then the Parliament will decide it.
Now the next hearing on this matter will be held in November. Only after this will it be known whether the prisoners will be given an option, or the existing method will remain intact.
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