The number of death sentences reached a two-decade high as trial courts announced capital punishment in 165 cases in 2022, according to the report ‘The Death Penalty in India, Annual Statistical Report, 2022’. Furthermore, more than 50% of them were charged with sex crimes.
Read also: Air India Pee Gate: Court reserves order on Shankar Mishra’s bail plea
The total number of prisoners on death row or facing death row increased last year. The report also states that 539 prisoners were on death row by the end of 2022. This number was the highest since 2016. In addition, the number of prisoners living under death sentence saw a 40% increase since 2015, the report said.
Read also: Who is Gautam Adani and why is his company sinking?
The report released by Project 39A of the National Law University (NLU) said, “A large number of death row population indicates continuation of high number of death sentences by trial courts, low rate of disposal by appellate courts “
The report also states that around 51.28% of the cases where the death penalty was awarded were related to sexual offences.
Highest death sentence in a single case since 2016
The report also found that the year also saw the highest number of death sentences in a single case since 2016. The trial court in Ahmedabad sentenced 38 people to death in the bomb blast case. The Apex Court and the High Courts have given verdicts in 11 and 68 cases involving the death penalty.
3 out of 101 death row prisoners were confirmed by the High Court and 2 out of 15 were confirmed by the Supreme Court
The report found that out of 68 cases heard by the high courts, involving 101 prisoners, 48 death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment, 43 were acquitted of all charges and six cases were referred to a lower court. given. Death sentences were confirmed in only three of the 101 cases.
“Out of 68 cases decided by the High Courts, involving 101 prisoners, death sentences of three prisoners were confirmed, 48 had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment, 43 were acquitted of all charges and the cases of six were sent to the trial court.” NLU report added.
Talking about the Supreme Court, out of 11 cases involving 15 prisoners, the court acquitted five of all charges. The death sentences of eight prisoners were commuted to life imprisonment. At the same time, the death sentence for two prisoners was confirmed.
It said the acquittals of the apex court pointed out the improper nature of the investigation and procedural failures by the police, prosecution and lower courts.
“While appellate courts continued to commute the majority of death sentences handed down in the year, it is worrying that these commutations have resulted in a reduction in life sentences,” the report said.
In 2022, a three-judge bench referred the question of time to be served for execution of sentence in capital punishment cases, along with other aspects of capital punishment.
(with agency inputs)
catch all business News, market news, breaking news events and breaking news Update on Live Mint. download mint news app To get daily market updates.