Opinion - Letters to the Editor   

Capital punishment

There can be no question that the intent of those who have long pleaded for the abolition of the death sentence is noble. They value human life and are against the state terminating it by way of punishment even for the most heinous and gruesome crime. But yet one wonders whether they are not being naive.

The criminal law recognises a person’s right to self-defence, which includes even killing someone who is out to kill him. Isn’t the state merely exercising this right on behalf of society against homicidal maniacs, serial killers, and terrorists? True, ahimsa is central to our culture. But the ground realities and the times we live in ought not to be forgotten in the debate on whether or not the death penalty should be abolished. The Supreme Court has limited it to the rarest of rare cases and that is where it should remain.

K. Ponnuswami,

Chennai

Despite the death penalty continuing to remain in the statute book, heinous crimes are on the increase. Capital punishment alone can deter those who indulge in gruesome acts.

That some criminals whose death sentences are pending execution continue to commit crimes even while they are in prison cannot be overlooked in the debate. Those who advocate the abolition of capital punishment should look at the issue from the perspective of victims and their dear ones.

S. Nallasivan,

Tirunelveli

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