Execution by lethal shot: SC says govt isn't 'evolving'

THE Supreme Court on Wednesday observed that "the government is not ready to evolve" after it was informed of the Centre's opposition to using lethal injections as a mode of execution for death row convicts instead of the current method of hanging.

- SUCHITRA KALYAN MOHANTY

"The problem is that the government is not ready to evolve ... it's a very old procedure, and things have changed over time," remarked a two-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by advocate Rishi Malhotra seeking removal of the use of hanging as the mode of execution from the statute, citing "prolonged pain and suffering."