Law Commission to Present Death Penalty Abolition Report on Monday

Law Commission’s 3-year term ends on August 31.

The Supreme Court of India. (Photo: Reuters)

A Law Commission, which is said to be in favour of abolishing death penalty except in terror-related cases, will present its report on the issue to the government on Monday.

A draft report of the Law Commission has pointed out that despite the landmark Supreme Court judgement in Bachan Singh vs State of Punjab.

The apex court had, in the said case, laid down the “rarest of rare” doctrine and held that capital punishment should only be awarded in the “rarest of rare cases”.

The application of death penalty continues to remain excessive, arbitrary, unprincipled, judge-centric and prone to error.
— Law Commission Draft Report

At least two members of the panel have expressed their opposition to the draft report even as a Law Commission consultation process on the report saw a majority opposing death penalty.

India is one of 59 countries where the death penalty is still awarded by courts.

The Commission is working overtime to complete the report as its three-year term is coming to an end on August 31.

In 1962, the Law Commission in its 35th report had recommended retention of death penalty.

(With inputs from PTI)