INDIA: LAW MINISTER AGAINST CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

Notwithstanding the growing clamour for death penalty to the Delhi rape-and-murder case accused, Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar indicated that he was against the idea of capital punishment.
“Many people are talking about death penalty, but I think life imprisonment would be more effective because capital punishment kills culprit in a day, while he dies everyday while being in jail,” Kumar said.
Six men have been arrested on charges of rape and murder of 23-year-old girl in Delhi.
Kumar said that he personally believed that need of the hour was to enforce existing laws in a better way instead of making them stricter. At same time, he made it clear that his views did not reflect that of Government on issue and a final decision on it would be taken only after going through the recommendations of Justice (retired) JS Verma committee report, which was expected by the end of this month.
“Justice Verma’s report would be available by end of this month. Only then, we would get to know his recommendations. After Committee’s recommendations, final decision on making any amendments in existing laws or enacting new ones would be taking after deliberations with all the political parties,” he added.
A three-member committee of jurists was formed on December 24, to suggest amendments to criminal law to sternly deal with sexual assault cases.