@rajudvindane @praveenarimbrathod @vidyut @karthikeyanak do you guys have any views on this?

Some people are afraid of death, and it seems the only deterrent against certain crimes.

@karthikeyanak but which crimes are you free of because of this deterrent?

@vik we should stand for abolishion of death penalty.

1. You already mentioned corruption and chance of wrong conclusions.
2. When the crime happens mostly, people don't think about getting caught. Even if they are caught poor people are getting punished more than the rich (there is a recent study).
3. It is about revenge than justice.

I have mixed feelings. I am against punishment in general, let alone death penalty. I'd like to find more functional ways to deliver justice to begin with. The idea of society agreeing of norms of behavior to the point of taking life is troubling. Perhaps I do not want to have responsibility for such a decision - which is implied with the judiciary acting on behalf laws created for me - the citizen. This is utopia. At least as of now.

That said, I do understand that in a country fraught with terrible challenges, some situations would justify the death penalty rather than risking lives of others. Repeat offenders in violent crimes, fanatical leaders continuing to inspire and provoke mass violence (who sadly never land in jail), key prisoners who would provide high value targets for blackmail or hostage taking for exchanges, premediated brutality to achieve objectives, etc... I can understand how safeguarding may be beyond the capacity of the state and the most functional (even if not ideal) solution would be the death penalty.

In my view, whatever the state decides, it must be after considered debate and clear to the public. The standards, while keeping some potential for preventing an execution, must not be so vague as to result in a perversion of justice by manifesting unequally across social prejudices like class, caste or religion. Robust process and clear guidelines for sentencing, appeals and execution are important so that neither the state nor prisoners can pervert the system to their ends.

I think the issue with death penalty in India is not so much that it is present, but it is present in a manner that favors some and targets others.

@vidyut I feel like I need to try and convince you further. Perhaps these points will help:

1. No country that has the death penalty is free from crime - so it therefore does not act as a deterrent.

2. We have no shortage of solutions for keeping people incarcerated - it's a huge industry. We should not be taking someones life for the sake of saving costs.

3. None of the pro arguments deal with the case of a miscarriage of just.

4. More than 117 nations worldwide have abandoned capital punishment in law or in practice. By retaining it we keep company with some of the worlds worst human rights abusers.