Changing Dimension of Capital Punishment and Judicial Pronouncement in India

Abstract

The history of capital punishment in India shows, during the midlevel period inflection of death penalty was commonly practiced for the elimination of criminals. In 19th century, however the public opinion disfavored the use of capital punishment for offences other than the heinous crimes. The irrevocable and irreversible nature of death penalty gave rise to a number of complications which invited public attention towards the need for abolition of this sentence. Many Asian counties removed capital punishment but in 21st century capital punishment plays an important role in India and it is awarded in rarest of rare cases only.