Supreme Court raps Centre on hanging; seeks humane execution alternatives
**Supreme Court Criticizes Centre on Hanging; Urges Consideration of Humane Execution Alternatives**
*By Snehil Singh | October 15, 2025, 6:49 PM*
The Supreme Court has expressed its dissatisfaction with the central government’s opposition to replacing hanging with lethal injection as a method of execution. This issue was raised during a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking to abolish death by hanging.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta noted that the government appears unwilling to adapt to modern practices in capital punishment.
**Execution Debate and Government’s Stand**
Justice Mehta questioned the government’s reluctance, stating, “Problem is, the government is not ready to evolve. It’s a very old procedure, things have changed over a period of time.”
Senior Advocate Sonia Mathur, representing the government, defended their position, calling it a policy decision.
The PIL advocates for replacing hanging with alternative methods such as lethal injection or shooting, which could reportedly carry out executions within minutes.
**Petitioner’s Arguments**
Advocate Rishi Malhotra, the petitioner, argued strongly in favor of lethal injection over hanging. Highlighting that 49 U.S. states use lethal injection, he described hanging as “cruel, barbaric, and lingering.”
The petition also calls for recognizing the right to a dignified death as a fundamental right under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. It asserts that current execution methods violate this right and contravene United Nations resolutions aimed at minimizing suffering during capital punishment.
**Expert Committee on Execution Methods**
Back in March 2023, the Supreme Court had considered forming an expert committee to study the impact of hanging, including the pain inflicted, the time taken for death, and the resources required to carry out hangings effectively.
Subsequently, Attorney General R. Venkataramani recommended the formation of such a committee to explore more humane execution alternatives.
The case has now been adjourned until November 11 for further hearings.
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The Supreme Court’s comments underscore a growing debate about modernizing capital punishment methods to align with humanitarian standards and constitutional protections. The upcoming hearings will be closely watched for developments on this critical issue.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/india/supreme-court-raps-centre-on-hanging-seeks-humane-execution-alternatives/story
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