Monday, February 7, 2011

Are we really PRO Capital Punishment?


As many say “Justice delayed is justice denied”, and in my opinion in many cases that is the reality and a sad reality at that. There are many criminal cases I have seen in the world where this has been the case, this has been the reality and this has become the fact of the history.



I look back at my ethics classes in college and clearly remember all the heated discussion we had all the arguments we got into and how EVERY time we never reached a solid conclusion or acceptance for any topic we discussed. Capital Punishment was a just one of those many topics but it was not that we never were sure of. I have seen over the years how in a heated rage people have asked for capital punishment for the heinous crimes many have committed and how with time many of those same people have said “Death is an easy way out for these people…let them live and let them suffer every day for the crime they did”
Being an Indian and having witnessed the 26/11 terrorist attack in India in 2008 the case of Ajmal Kasaab comes immediately in my mind.

Fact: On May 3, 2010, Ajmal Kasab was found guilty of numerous charges and was sentenced to death on 4 counts.

Reality: There are over 50 more cases pending against him and he will not be “hanged” till they all have been heard and tried in court.

Fact: Kasab became the 52nd person on death row in India for killing 72 people and waging war against the state.

Reality: At least 100 people in 2007, 40 in 2006, 77 in 2005, 23 in 2002, and 33 in 2001 were sentenced to death (but not executed), according to Amnesty International figures. No official statistics of those sentenced to death have been released.

Reality: Since 1995 only one execution (in India), that of Dhananjoy Chatterjee in August 2004, took place.

Reality: As recommended by the Central Bureau of Investigation the death penalty was awarded to Santosh Singh (Priyadarshini Mattoo murder case) on October 30, 2006.

Reality: On 19th Feb 2007 The Supreme Court of India upheld the conviction of Santosh Kumar Singh in Priyadarshini Mattoo rape and murder case but reduced the death sentence to life imprisonment, saying certain things were in his favour.

Now looking at above data and leaving everything else apart, I want to know are we really PRO Capital Punishment in India or is it a mockery and doesn’t even matter as these criminals are still alive even after being given the “death sentence.”

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