Death penalty: It needs to stay

FOR AGES, there have been arguments for and against capital punishment. Time and again people come to the conclusion that life is God given, and no legal or religious body constituted by man is liable to take something god-given. A human life, whether it belongs to a criminal or cannibal, it is the most precious thing in this world, and its loss is irredeemable.

When it comes to crime and punishment, capital punishment becomes a bone of contention even in international forums. But if we look at crimes alone, we can understand from around world that most heinous of them are carried in broad daylight, and the culprits walk away scot-free. The law of the land goes on pondering over evidences, witnesses and ridiculous ‘beyond doubt proofs’ of prosecution to stamp a criminal with what he deserves.

Whose stance get vindicated, the courts’ or the criminal’s? A case of pre-meditated criminal act that involves the death of an innocent should be seen through a different legal prism. Here it is to be noted that a premeditated act of violence does not justify any God’s intentions. The person, who does such a crime, is the worst of all human forms, and such forms are potential threat to the rest of the creations of God.

When we realise that they do these things to achieve something material or monetary in their life, the gravity of the issue gets multiplied. One’s life is taken to augment another one’s life. It is the most ungodly of acts. So such elements, whatever creed they belong to, need to be eliminated by a court of law.

If a legal system is to safeguard the freedom and fearless co-existence of human beings, it has to have provisions to impose death penalty. This is to be executed with extreme caution, as death does not leave any room for second thoughts. It is a one-stop solution to the most heinous social malady called ‘willful killing’. Willful killers need to be put to death willfully.

Therefore, the provision for death penalty in all legal systems around the world that needs to stay. It is for the general well being of all beings in this world.

If a civilised person wills to kill another, the former does not deserve to be living. Here human conscience should prevail over the so-called divine ‘commissions’. Only death deters death.

Killing a drug peddler, an impulsive rapist, a self defending innocent, an innocuous thief and the like do not augur well for any legal system, however divine that system claims itself to be. There are criminals who deserve death penalty. The law of the land must have provision to honour such ones.