Law panel’s report on death penalty reaches MHA for final call

The Law Commission’s report supporting the abolition of death penalty except in terror-related cases has been forwarded to the Home Ministry for a final decision, amid indications that government may not be inclined to support it.

The report ‘Death Penalty’ was submitted to the Law Ministry by the Law Commission on August 31.

“Recently, we have forwarded it to the Home Ministry as changes in the Indian Penal Code is its domain,” a senior Law Ministry functionary said.

He said while a final call on the subject will be taken by the Home Ministry, it can refer the report back to the Law Ministry for any clarifications it may require.Two government  appointees in the law panel – ex-officio members P K Malhotra (Law Secretary) and Sanjay Singh (Legislative Secretary) had given their dissent on the report.

Besides them, Justice (retd) Usha Mehra, a permanent member of the panel too had opposed the report. Sources in the government said the Centre is unlikely to support abolition of death penalty as there is a feeling that time is not ripe to do away with capital punishment.