Should The Death Penalty Be Abolished?

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By Poonam Cheleri Niduvat

@poonam_cn

The death penalty, a practice that has been in place for centuries, has always been a subject of heated debate and controversy. Should it be abolished? In my opinion, YES!

Shedding light on death penalty and keeping in mind a most recent event where, after being imprisoned for over a year, 8 Ex-Indian Navy Officers were sentenced to death in Qatar for undisclosed reasons, here’s my take on this topic.

Firstly, the death penalty has a ton of moral and ethical implications. Even in response to the most heinous crimes, taking the life of a human being raises questions on the sanctity of life and potential for rehabilitation. If death sentence were to be abolished, we can emphasize the value of every human life and demonstrate a commitment to the principle that violence is NOT a solution to violence. A justice system should reflect the highest moral standards, and the state-sanctioned killing of individuals does not align with these principles.

Moreover, the possibility of taking an innocent person’s life is an undeniable reality. Due to the irreversible nature of capital punishment, any mistake in it is a tragedy that cannot be undone.

There have been cases where individuals on the death row were later found not guilty through DNA evidence. For every nine executions, one death row inmate has been exonerated. While 1,420 convicted killers have been executed since the death penalty was reinstated in 1976, another 156 have been cleared of their crimes.

The death penalty also affects marginalized and minority communities. Studies have shown that racial and socioeconomic disparities exist in death penalty sentencing. This inequality in the application of the law not only undermines trust in the criminal justice system but also perpetuates systemic discrimination.

From a practical standpoint, death penalty is also expensive and time-consuming. The legal processes involved often takes years and drain valuable resources that could be better utilized elsewhere in the justice system. By abolishing death penalty, we can redirect these resources toward improving crime prevention, victim support, and the rehabilitation of offenders.

In conclusion, a just and compassionate society seeks alternatives to the concept of death penalty that uphold the principles of fairness, rehabilitation and the preservation of human life. It is time for us to move away from death penalty and embrace a more humane and ethical approach to justice. Abolishing death penalty is a step toward creating a society, where we respect the value of every human life and work towards a more equitable and fair legal system.