SC issues notice to Centre, asks to find replacement for death sentence

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the central government in connection with a plea seeking replacement of death sentence.

The top court has asked the Centre to give a detailed reply on the same within three months.

A bench of three judges headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, while hearing the plea filed by Advocate Rishi Malhotra, said the Indian Constitution is a compassionate one which recognises principle of sanctity of life.

It observed that with the invention of various modes of execution in modern time, legislature can think of other mode for death convicts, keeping in view the dynamic progress in science.

The petitioner in his plea stated the execution as contemplated under Section 354(5) of CrPC (hung by the neck till the person is dead) is not only barbaric and cruel but it is also against the resolutions adopted by the United Nations Economic & Social Council (ECOSOC) which has clarified that 'where the capital punishment occurs it should be carried out so as to inflict minimum suffering.