Ujjwal Nikam opposes death penalty for rapists

Adovcates a 25 years' or jail till death will serve the purpose

Death penalty is not the proper punishment in rape-related cases, said Ujjwal Nikam, who has been Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) in several high-profile cases, including 26/11.

Nikam's remarks come amidst raging debate over tough anti-rape laws, including capital punishment for the culprits.

Nikam believes that an increased jail-term to 25 years or till death should serve the purpose as, according to him, death penalty is not the ultimate solution to curb such cases.

Of late there has been a nationwide outcry over the last month's gang-rape of a 23-year-old girl in Delhi and subsequent vociferous demand for sending the accused to the gallows, .

He is also of the view that provision of death sentence may prompt the rapist to kill the victim. "Police should be sensitised about handling cases related to crime against women," he said.

Generally, there is no eyewitness in the cases of sexual assault. Hence, the police investigation and trial take place based on victim's version. This brings limitations on legal provisions, Nikam maintained.

He suggested that evidence in rape cases should be recorded through video conferencing.