Hanging Or A Lethal Injection: On The Horns Of A Dilemma

By Sumit Paul, New Age Islam 17 October 2025 The Supreme Court on Wednesday, October 15, observed that "the government (Union) is not ready to evolve", after being apprised by the Centre's opposition to a suggestion that death row convicts be given an option to choose lethal injection as a mode of execution. "Problem is, the government is not ready to evolve...it's (death by hanging) a very old procedure, things have changed over a period of time," observed a two-judge bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta. The court was hearing a plea filed by lawyer Rishi Malhotra, seeking the removal of the present mode of execution of death row convicts by hanging from the statute. He also sought that the top court should direct the government to adopt the use of lethal injection in place of hanging as a mode of execution in death penalty cases. He informed the Court that 49 out of 50 states in the USA have adopted the same. "At least give an option to the condemned prisoner whether he wants hanging or lethal injection. The lethal injection is quick, humane and decent, as opposed to hanging, which is cruel, barbaric and lingering...for 40 minutes, the body lingers on the rope," Malhotra argued. First of all, there's no place for capital punishment in a civilised country or community, provided we call ourselves civilised. Secondly, if at all the State is so savage and uncivilised as to execute a convict, why shouldn't he be given an option to choose lethal injection as a mode of execution? Hanging is such a primitive, barbaric, painful and uncivilised way of eliminating a convict. Even if one's not a witness to a death by hanging, one forms a voyeuristic image or spectacle of it in his/her mind, which is no less frightening. Nathuram Godse died after 15 minutes of writhing when he was hanged along with N D Apte on November 15, 1949 at Ambala Central Jail. So did Ranga when he and Billa were hanged on January 31, 1982 at Tihar Jail, Delhi. They may have committed heinous crimes that 'deserved' capital punishment, the State had no right to inflict painful and suffocating deaths on them. Contrary to the general tenor and legal definition of a hanging being easy, quick and painless, it takes time and is painful for a person because it causes death by asphyxiation. Former CJI D Y Chandrachud was also of the same view and wanted a less painful alternative to hanging. In fact, he was simply against the death rap. Moreover, the very thought or mental imagery of a hanged man is so disturbing even for others. Hanging is also against the dignity of an individual however bad he may have been. Even a condemned prisoner has a semblance of dignity. Hanging needs an executioner (Jallaad). What happens to him when he hangs a convict? Isn't it a trauma even for a seasoned hangman? Au contraire, a lethal injection is painless, 'dignified' and not so elaborately 'ritualistic' like a hanging. While both are undesirable ways to kill a convict, a lethal injection has a modicum of decency. Let a man on death row choose the mode of his execution. The government must evolve. ---- A regular columnist for New Age Islam, Sumit Paul is a researcher in comparative religions, with special reference to Islam. He has contributed articles to the world's premier publications in several languages including Persian. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/spiritual-meditations/hanging-lethal-injection-dilemma/d/137280 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism