In its consultation paper on the execution of the death...

In its consultation paper on the execution of the death penalty for prisoners, the Law Commission of India said that causing death by lethal injection was simple to execute. It takes only five to nine minutes to declare the prisoner dead; as unconsciousness sets in immediately after the application of anaesthesia, causing no pain. Pointing out that this method was being followed in many developed countries, the Commission said death by lethal injection was now accepted to be the most civilised mode of execution. Section 354 (5) of the current Indian Penal Code says, "when any person is sentenced to death, the sentence shall direct that he be hanged by the neck till he is dead". It takes 40 minutes to declare the death of the prisoner by hanging. According to the Commission, death penalty has been a mode of punishment since time immemorial. Stressing the need for changing this practice, the panel felt that with technological advances in the fields of science, technology and medicine, a method which is certain, humane, quick and decent should be adopted. Quoting the report of the Royal Commission on capital punishment that execution of the sentence should be less painful, quick and that there should be least mutilation of the body, the panel feels that death by lethal injection fulfilled all three requirements.