Centre's new bills proposing capital punishment draw mixed reactions

Hyderabad: The Union government’s latest bills proposing to award maximum capital punishment for crimes such as mob-lynching and rape of minors and also death penalty or lifer, have evoked mixed reactions in the city. While many welcomed the proposals, activists have opposed the bills.

High Court advocate Rapolu Bhaskar said that it was a good sign as it will instill fear and will help in containing offences particularly against women and children.

Terming the bills as progressive, former IPS officer and BSP Telangana chief R.S. Praveen Kumar, said if such strict punishments are not awarded, offenders get emboldened and indulge in more offences.

“However, the government should ensure that the accused get a fair trial and an opportunity to seek discourse on legal remedies,” he said.

Praveen Kumar added that mob lynching and rapes of any kind were unacceptable in the civil society. The death penalty should not be awarded just because there is a provision, he said.

Sunitha Krishnan, founder of Prajwala Foundation. which works on sex trafficking and sex crimes, said that the new bills provide great hope to all those affected.

“The bills are conceptualised to the present times and are in line with the needs of the day, reflecting a lot of things happening now,” she said.

“They also cover a large segment of crimes against women and children, which is another great lead,” she added.

Meanwhile, expressing concerns over the bills, High Court advocate M.A. Shakeel said that they oppose the death penalty in any form.

On mob-lynching, he said that they were state sponsored cold-blooded crimes.

“And the most horrifying part is that those involved in mob-lynching incidents are rewarded and even glorified. If there is strict action against the perpetrators, such incidents will not happen,” he said.

He also noted that those involved in such offences are invariably from the marginalised and minority groups.

“Just for the sake of an animal, you take the life of a person. Rather, you hand over the person to the police, support the case and ensure that the person is convicted. Why take law into your hands?” he said.