mains2007

This refers to the editorial “Abolish the death penalty” (Jan. 7). By voting for a moratorium on executions, the United Nations General Assembly has expressed serious concern over the inhuman practice. Capital punishment imposes a definitive penalty on a man whose culpability is often relative. It denies the condemned man his natural right to live and a chance to make amends. Moreover, the death penalty is anti-poor. Most of those on the death row are those who could not afford to hire a lawyer. Since our criminal justice system is not foolproof, there is a danger of an innocent person being wrongfully punished.

A civilised state like India should not have the authority to award capital punishment even in the rarest of rare cases.

T. Marx,

Karaikal