Modi govt may reject law panel`s recommendation for abolition of death penalty

Home Ministry is said to be of the view that the time is `not ripe` to remove death penalty completely from the statute book.

New Delhi: Keeping in mind the threat from terrorism, the union home ministry may reject the law commission’s recommendation for abolition of death penalty.

As per a report, senior officials of the ministry held detailed discussions on law panel's report in favour of abolition of the death penalty except in terror-related cases.

However, the officials are said to be of the view that the time is “not ripe” to remove it completely from the statute book.

The news report further adds that the law panel's recommendations will be rejected by the government.

The report 'Death Penalty' was submitted to the Law Ministry by the Law Commission on August 31.

Importantly, two government appointees in the law panel -- ex-officio members P K Malhotra (Law Secretary) and Sanjay Singh (Legislative Secretary) had given their dissent on the report.

Besides them, Justice (retd) Usha Mehra, a permanent member of the panel too had opposed the report.