Hanging to death not as inhuman as lethal injection, Government to SC


New Delhi : The Central government on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that death by hanging is not as “barbaric, inhuman and cruel” as an execution by firing squad or lethal injection.

Supporting a legal provision that a death row convict would only be hanged to death, the Ministry of Home Affairs told a bench headed by Chief Justice Deepak Misra that death by hanging was “quick, simple” and free from anything that would unnecessarily sharpen the poignancy of the prisoner, reports IANS.

“Execution, as contemplated under section 354(5) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, is not barbaric, inhuman and cruel as well as in compliance with safeguard no. 9 of the resolutions adopted by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC),” said the affidavit filed by the ministry.