SC justifies capital punishment in India

The Supreme Court on Friday also justified the practice of capital punishment in India, particularly in view of growing terrorist activity that has cost the lives of hundreds of innocent civilians and uniformed personnel.

“If the murder is committed in an extremely brutal or dastardly manner, which gives rise to intense and extreme indignation in the community, the court may be fully justified in awarding the death penalty. If the murder is committed by burning a bride for the sake of money or satisfaction of other kinds of greed, there will be ample justification for awarding the death penalty,” it said. “If the enormity of the crime is such that a large number of innocent people are killed without rhyme or reason, then, too, award of the extreme penalty of death will be justified. All these factors have to be taken into consideration by the President or the governor while deciding mercy pleas,” the bench said. “While there is no abatement in crimes committed due to personal animosity and property disputes, people across the world have suffered on account of new forms of crimes. The monster of terrorism has spread its tentacles in most countries,” the bench said, adding, “India is one of the worst victims of internal and external terrorism. In the last three decades, innocent lives ha-ve been lost on account of the activities of terrorists, who have mercilessly kill-ed people using bullets, bo-mbs and other weapons.”