Supreme Court Upholds Hanging, But Leaves Door Open for Future Alternatives
What Happened
The Supreme Court dismissed a petition seeking to replace hanging as the method of execution for death-row convicts with alternatives such as lethal injection, shooting, electrocution, or gas chambers. The bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta held that there was no sufficient basis to reconsider earlier rulings that upheld the constitutionality of hanging as a mode of execution.
Key Takeaways
While rejecting the plea, the Court signalled that the debate is not permanently closed. It said future constitutional scrutiny could be possible if compelling scientific, medical, or empirical evidence emerges. The Court also noted that the Centre remains free to conduct an expert review to examine whether any alternative method could better minimize pain while preserving the dignity of condemned prisoners.