Supreme Court Dismisses Plea Seeking Abolition of Execution by Hanging
The bench said it cannot direct Parliament to choose a different execution method, even as it left open a wider review by experts.
- On Tuesday, August 18, 2026, The Supreme Court dismissed a petition seeking to replace hanging with lethal injection, clarifying it cannot direct the legislature to adopt particular sentencing modes.
- Rishi Malhotra filed the 2017 PIL referencing the 187th Law Commission Report advocating removal of hanging from statute, proposing alternatives like "intravenous lethal injection, shooting, electrocution or gas chamber."
- In a 2018 Ministry of Home Affairs affidavit, The Centre argued that hanging is "quick, simple" and does not "unnecessarily sharpen the poignancy of the prisoner" compared to other execution methods.
- Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta noted the verdict does not preclude The Centre from undertaking a comprehensive review through an expert body to minimize unnecessary pain and preserve prisoner dignity.
- In March 2023, The Supreme Court considered establishing an expert committee to examine if hanging was proportionate, seeking "better data" from The Centre regarding execution methods to address pain concerns.
14 Articles
14 Articles
SC rejects plea to replace hanging with less painful method for death penalty
The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea challenging hanging as the method of executing death sentences, while leaving the door open for future reconsideration based on compelling scientific evidence. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said the Centre could examine alternative execution methods scientifically.
SC dismisses plea against noose, leaves it to govt for alternative method
The Supreme Court of India has dismissed a petition seeking to abolish execution by hanging for death row convicts, rejecting calls for less painful methods such as intravenous lethal injection. While upholding the current practice, the court stated that its verdict does not prevent the Centre from reviewing execution methods through an expert body to ensure minimal pain and preserve dignity. The ruling came on a 2017 plea by senior advocate Ris…
Supreme Court rejects plea to replace hanging with lethal injection
The Supreme Court dismissed a plea seeking to replace hanging with lethal injection and other methods. It said the Centre may still review whether an alternative can reduce pain while preserving dignity.
Deccan Chronicle
awazthevoice.inSC Dismisses Plea Seeking Abolition of Execution by Hanging
The bench delivered its verdict on a plea, filed in 2017 by senior advocate Rishi Malhotra, seeking removal of the present mode of execution of death row convicts by hanging from the statute
The Supreme Court has rejected the demand for adopting alternative methods of execution for death penalty instead of hanging. Leaving the matter to the Central Government, the court said that it can consider a less painful and more respectable method of execution with the help of experts. Petition rejected: A bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta has rejected the petition seeking a less painful alternative method of execution fo…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 86% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
