This article published in the editorial section of The Hindu Newspaper talks about the continued use of the death penalty in India, especially in cases of serious crimes like rape and murder. While many countries have stopped using the death penalty, India still holds on to it.
Recently, the West Bengal government introduced a new law called the Aparajita Woman and Child (West Bengal Criminal Laws Amendment) Bill, 2024. This law came after a horrifying case where a doctor was raped and killed in Kolkata. The new law aims to make punishments for crimes like rape harsher, including allowing the death penalty. While the law was passed by the state government, the Governor has sent it to the President for further consideration. This is happening at a time when many cases of rape, especially involving women from marginalized communities like Dalits and Adivasis, are being reported across India.
For Reference– https://hellostudent.co.in/kolkata-doctor-rape-case-the-hindu-editorial/
In 2022, there were over 31,000 reported cases of rape in India, which is about 4 rapes every hour. There were also 248 cases of rape-related murders. States like Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh had the highest number of reported rapes.
Death Penalty in other countries
Globally, many countries are moving away from the death penalty. By the end of 2023, about 112 countries had completely stopped using it, and 144 countries had either abolished it or stopped using it in practice. But 55 countries, including India, still use the death penalty. In South Asia, Bhutan and Nepal have abolished it, but countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan still retain it.
In India, 120 death sentences were handed out in 2023, though no executions happened. The number of people on death row is rising, with 561 people awaiting execution by the end of 2023, the highest in 20 years.
The article points out that many of the prisoners on death row spend years in very harsh conditions. Some are eventually proven innocent but receive no compensation for their suffering. Many of these prisoners develop physical and mental health problems, and some even end their lives because of the terrible conditions they live in. Most of them come from poor and marginalized communities, where they face discrimination in the justice system.
The article also notes that increasing the number of crimes punishable by death, such as rape, has not made society any safer for women and children. After high-profile rape cases, there’s often public outrage, and people call for the death penalty for the criminals, labelling them as “monsters.” But the truth is, these criminals come from the same society we all live in.
Experts, like those in the Justice Verma Committee, have said that the death penalty doesn’t actually stop crimes like rape. They argue that the real problem lies in things like poverty, lack of education, and unfair treatment of marginalized communities. Punishing criminals with death doesn’t address these deeper issues.
Instead of focusing on the death penalty, the article calls for more attention to the root causes of these problems. It suggests that governments should invest in better education, healthcare, and support for rape survivors and their families. They should also work to ensure that marginalized communities are treated fairly and given the opportunities to improve their lives. Only by addressing these underlying issues can we hope to reduce violence against women and children and create a safer society.
In conclusion, the article argues that simply relying on the death penalty isn’t an effective solution for dealing with crimes like rape. Instead, society should focus on bigger reforms to the justice system and work toward equality for everyone, especially for women and marginalized communities.
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The Editorial Page of The Hindu is an essential reading for all the students aspiring for UPSC, SSC, PCS, Judiciary etc or any other competitive government exams.
This may also be useful for exams like CUET UG and CUET PG, GATE, GMAT, GRE AND CAT
To read this article in Hindi –https://bhaarat.hellostudent.co.in/