The Law Commission of India has recommended abolition of death penalty in the country, reports the Indian Express. In its 272-page draft report, the commission called for speedy abolition of the death penalty from the statute books, except in cases where the accused is convicted of involvement in a terror case or waging war against the nation.
India is one of 59 countries where the death penalty is still invoked by courts. The Indian Supreme Court in 2014 had asked the Law Commission to study the death penalty. After consulting with experts, government officials and political leaders, the commission voted 6-2 for abolition in most cases, citing “prevailing standards of constitutional morality and human dignity.” It said the notion that capital punishment deters crime is a myth.