Centre to SC: Death by hanging is not as inhuman as firing

New Delhi, April 25: The Central government on Tuesday told the Supreme Court that death by hanging is not as "barbaric, inhuman and cruel" as an execution by firing squad or lethal injection.

Supporting a legal provision that a death row convict would only be hanged to death, the Ministry of Home Affairs told a bench headed by Chief Justice Deepak Misra that death by hanging was "quick, simple" and free from anything that would unnecessarily sharpen the poignancy of the prisoner.

"Execution, as contemplated under section 354(5) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, is not barbaric, inhuman and cruel as well as in compliance with safeguard no. 9 of the resolutions adopted by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)," said the affidavit filed by the ministry.

The affidavit came while responding to a PIL filed by advocate Rishi Malhotra challenging the constitutionality of hanging to death as a mode of execution.