The Supreme Court has rejected a petition seeking to replace death by hanging with other “less painful” methods such as lethal injection.
Upholding the constitutional validity of capital punishment by hanging, the Supreme Court clarified that hanging will remain the method of execution for now in the country. The Court added that its judgment is not the final word on the subject, and that the issue may be examined again in the future if compelling scientific evidence is produced regarding alternative methods of execution.
However, the bench said there was no sufficient basis to do so. The court also said that the Central Government, if it wishes, can constitute a committee of experts to conduct a comprehensive review of alternative methods of carrying out the death penalty.
The Supreme Court also rejected the plea to refer three earlier judgments on the issue to a larger bench. The petitioner had sought that the three earlier Supreme Court judgments on the issue be referred to a larger bench.
