How Safe are Our Children over the Internet in Kerala ?

(By Lina Acca Mathew, Asst. Professor of Law, Government Law College, Ernakulam)

With advances in information and communication technology, and affordable rates, India, including the State of Kerala, resembles a beehive of constantly interacting individuals making their presence known through the use of such technology devices. But along with the legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of speech and expression, the use of such devices are also conducive to devising easier and novel methods for conducting illegal activities. Many a time even a legitimate service provider may become a rights-violator because of a gap in the law itself. This paper is an attempt to suggest the redressal of certain issues on child safety that are deemed necessary specifically to the Kerala situation, but have wider ramifications in the Indian and, possibly, the global context, too.

Most cybercrimes being reported in Kerala State are in association with social networking sites wherein defamatory or pornographic material is posted on fake ids. There have been instances of sexual abuse of school girls being filmed on mobile cameras and circulated. The Ambalappuzha incident in 2008 when three such school girls ended their lives has not yet faded from our memories. Also, it has been understood that even young children below the age of ten have been initiated by their seniors to view pornographic sites on school computers without the knowledge of teachers and school authorities, but these remain unreported.  

The official report on child abuse in India, published by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2007  says that exposure to pornography among boys is highest in Kerala among Indian States₁. 86.7 % of the boys in the State have been exposed to pornography. The National Crime Records Bureau report states that Kerala topped the list of under-eighteens arrested for violating the Information Technology Act, 2000(I.T.A.) in 2012. Out of the cases registered under I.T. Act in the Kerala State, 147 were for publishing or electronic transmission of obscene material, which is the highest among other States. In 96 cases, the motive was harassment of women, 48 cases were for committing fraud or illegal gain, 44 cases were for money, and 19 for causing disrepute to others. Out of 312 persons arrested as suspects in cases for cybercrimes, 73 were neighbours, friends or relatives₂.

Risks  faced  by  children  over  the  internet 

1. Privacy Intrusion through Online harassment/cyber bullying; Cyber stalking; Violation of body privacy; disclosure of information in breach of lawful contract

2.  Exposure to sites offering illegal information

3.  Exposure to online fraudsters

4.  Exposure to online sexual predators-- soliciting children for sexual favours

5.  Production and viewing of child pornography

6.  Children watching age-inappropriate content like adult pornography

Generally, first five risks faced by children have corresponding offences and punishments under the I.T.A.. In addition, Section 77A of the I.T.A. provides that the Court shall not compound any offence where such offence affects the socio-economic conditions of the country or has been committed against a child below the age of 18 years or a woman. However, regarding the sixth risk, there is no law specifically illegalising the viewing of age-inappropriate content by children. 

1.  Privacy Intrusion - This is of various kinds. One kind of intrusion into the privacy of a person is online harassment or cyber bullying. This would mean an overt, intentional act of aggression towards another person online, or a willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones and other electronic devices. Cyber stalking relates to the stalker or predator following the victim’s movements in cyberspace and continually engaging in mental assault by continuously posting defamatory and/or abusive messages through information and communication devices. Another type of violation into the privacy of a child is taking photographs of a child’s private parts using mobile cameras and webcams. Yet another kind of violation is disclosure of information in breach of lawful contract. Children under eighteen are not absolutely or conditionally restricted under Indian law from surfing on the internet for non-criminal activities or from opening accounts on websites. However, a minor’s contract is void under Indian law. Hence, this issue is a problematic area, which needs to be legally resolved.

Remedy under the law: Both online harassment and cyber stalking are made punishable under Section 66 A of the I.T.A. with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and with fine. Section 66E of the I.T.A. punishes violation of body privacy with imprisonment, which may extend to three years or with fine not exceeding two lakh rupees, or with both. Section 72A of the I.T.A. prohibits disclosure of information to any third party without the consent of the person concerned, or in breach of a lawful contract. Such prohibition applies to any person including an intermediary who, while providing services under the terms of lawful contract, has secured access to any material containing personal information about another person, with the intent to cause or knowing that he is likely to cause wrongful loss or wrongful gain. Disclosure of such information in breach of lawful contract carries a punishment of imprisonment up to three years, or with a fine up to five lakh rupees, or with both. The section exempts such prohibition from applying to those instances as otherwise provided in the I.T.A. or any other law for the time being in force.

2. Exposure to sites offering illegal information - Websites providing information as to how to make a bomb, including chemical and biological weapons, sites providing complete guides as to how to commit crimes, sites of terrorist organisations, discussions advocating suicide, information regarding passwords to restricted sites, mostly pornographic sites including child pornography etc.

Remedy under the law: The Computer Emergency Response Team India (CERT- In) has been given authority under the Information Technology Act, 2000 to block such websites in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defense of India, security of the State, friendly relations with foreign states or public order or for preventing incitement to the commission of any cognizable offence relating to above (vide Section 69A read with Section 70B of the I.T.A.). Rule 4(4) of the Information Technology (Guidelines for Cyber Cafe) Rules, 2011 specifies that a minor without photo Identity card shall be accompanied by an adult having any of the documents specified for identity proof. Rule 6(3) states that any Cyber Cafe having cubicles or partitions shall not allow minors to use any computer resource in cubicles or partitions except when they are accompanied by their guardians or parents. 

3. Exposure to Online Fraudsters -- Such fraudsters beguile children to reveal the credit card numbers or bank account numbers of their parents, or get children to send them money. 

Remedy under the law: Punishment for identity theft for a term that may extend to three years and fine that may extend to rupees one lakh is specified under Section 66C of the I.T.A.. Punishment for cheating is imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and fine which may extend to one lakh rupees under Section 66D of the I.T.A..

4. Exposure to online sexual predators who indulge in child sexual abuse or engage in production of child pornography— Such sexual predators entice and solicit the child for further offline abuse. They may meet children in chat rooms, gain their confidence and then slowly start sexual conversations. This is called grooming. Some offenders expose the children to child pornography during the grooming process. They persuade them to take sexual pictures of themselves or perform sexual acts, in the front of the webcam, which are recorded on the other end. Such videos and images of offline sexual acts, may then be uploaded and traded on the Internet for viewing by third parties. Webcams are also made use of by children for prostituting themselves in real time. Such sexual offenders need not be adults, they can be children themselves, acting for monetary gain. 

Remedy under the law: Section 67B of the I.T.A. criminalises abusing children through the medium of information technology. Punishment for first conviction is imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years and with a fine which may extend to ten lakh rupees. Section 28 of the Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSOA) gives jurisdiction to the Special Court in every district to try cases relating to children under Section 67B of the I.T.A.. However, in case a child commits an offence under Section 67B of the I.T.A., then the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2006 would apply and the case would go before the Juvenile Justice Board.

5.  Production  of  child pornography-- This indicates producing any online representation, of a child engaged in real or simulated sexually explicit activities or any representation of the sexual parts of the child for primary sexual purposes, as well as engaging in the use of the child to create such representation. Mostly child pornography is circulated as encrypted files and it is very difficult to detect it. As such payments are made online, only banks and credit card companies can report suspicions of payments for child pornography on their part to law enforcement agencies. 

Remedy under the law: Section 67B of I.T.A. punishes child pornography with imprisonment of either description up to 5 years and Rs. 10 lakh fine.  Additionally, Section 13 of the POCSOA punishes the using of a child in any form of media for the purposes of sexual gratification, including representation of the sexual organs of a child, usage of a child engaged in real or simulated sexual acts (with or without penetration) and the indecent or obscene representation of a child. Punishments awarded under Section 14 of the POCSOA is given in the table below:

6. Children viewing age-inappropriate content like adult pornography - Children watching age-inappropriate content results in children misusing the internet and inadvertently getting abused as a result.  

Love in the Time of Jealous

(By V.K. Babu Prakash, District Judge, M.A.C.T., Thalassery)

The young lady stood in the dock of accused was beautiful. But, it was heartbreaking to look at the face of the young lady who stood in the witness box. Her face was burnt and looked horrific due to an acid attack. Her once beautiful left eye was completely burnt and lost due to the acrid aftermath of acid. The eye sight, the precious gift of the God, was totally lost. Once upon a time, she was also beautiful like the accused lady. Yet, the merciless fate changed her destiny all of a sudden. The girl in the dock was not at all looking at the defaced girl in the witness box. She was really unable to look at the defaced girl whose life and hope had been shattered by the stealthily wanton action of her. When their lives role back, they were both beautiful and good friends who enjoyed the life and its temptations with all vigor and vitality. But, fate in the form of inevitable incident bore the brunt and set them apart.

Both the girls fell in love with the same person without knowing the love of the other on him. The fellow, who is a new genre robin hood, loved both the girls in a parallel line up. But alas, he decided to share his life with the girl in the witness box. He expressed his will to her who was elated. Being naive, as love always blind folds human reasoning, she disclosed the proposal to her friend the girl in the dock. Then only she came to know the ugly side of love. Like the lady love Famina Daza in the novel of Gabriel Garcia Marques’s ‘ Love in the time of cholera’ she felt seduced. Indeed, Garcia Marques unravels in the novel the veiled notion that love sickness is literally an illness, a disease comparable to cholera. She was cruelly ignored by the lover who preferred the other. A damsel in distress is more venomous than a serpent in a grove. Likewise, the girl in the dock ablazed the flame of jealous and hatred in her mind to wreak vengeance. She began to look at the other girl as her arch enemy. Her mind never stood to reason which began to rattle with rage and revenge. She began to plan a plot of vengeance. She somehow or other obtained a can of sulfuric acid. She waited for the other girl near a bus stop in her village. The other girl with all her innocence came with a smile to her friend. She also smiled at her. Like the Macbeth Witch, she slowly but surely opened the can of acid and effortlessly poured it straight on the face of the hapless other girl. Heaven and hell broke and fell on her face with sudden alacrity. The girl fell like a cast away Lilly flower. She was taken to hospital. Doctors burned their midnight’s oil to save her. Medical science could not dissolve the ugliness made by the acid. Nor could it regain her lost beauty. Life and its promises suddenly turned to her as utter lies. It permanently shut its door on her within the wink of an eye. The clever lover sensing calamity walked away from his sugar coated promise of marriage.

Now, both the girls stand before me as accused and victim witness. Naked reality has overwhelmed both of them in the long run. Both look tired and timid. One stands trial and the other gives evidence. Both of them ignited a pang of pain in me. How am I to pronounce a verdict ? Who is the winner in the game of love ? Is it love or greed which entangled in the web of jealous ? Whatever verdict I pronounce, will it give back the beauty and life which the girl lost ? Too many questions but too little answers. While I was looking at the empty space before me, thinking aimlessly, far away in the horizon sun rays began to fade, reminding that a pale dusk is setting in slowly and slowly.

Senseless Sense of Time

(By V. Mohammed Rafeeq, Advocate, Perinthalmanna)

The unjust time schedule of the judicial functioning at the lower judiciary require a revamp for many reasons as present working hours of the court is 11 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. in the morning session and 2.30 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. in the evening session. A change as recommended will not reduce the total working hours as it starts at 8 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. Here there is a break for 30 minutes starting from 10.30 to 11 a.m. for refreshments. Total working hours being five hours in both cases. The persuasive arguments sound reasonable as it affects all four limbs as enunciated here under:-

2.   The  Criminal  Rules  of  Practice  Kerala,  1982 

(Date of commencement 1.1.1984 as per notification No. D1-27547/80 dated 10.10.1984 - High Court of Kerala appoints 1.11.1984 as the rules shall come into force)

R. (5) Hours  of  Sitting :-

(1) The Courts shall ordinarily sit from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with an interval not exceeding one hour.

(2) No cases shall be heard and no judicial act shall be formally announced or done on a holiday save in case of absolute urgency.

(3) Nothing in sub-section (2) shall affect jurisdiction of Magistrate to authorize detention of an accused person under sub-section (2) of Section 167 of the Code or to deal with a lunatic in accordance with provisions of Indian Lunacy Act, 1912 (Act 4 of 1912) or to record a dying declaration when required to do so by a competent authority or to release an accused from custody.

3.  The  Civil  Rules  of  Practice  Kerala,  1971

(The Rules came into force on 1.10.1971 as per Notification No. D1-7158/70 dated 5th August 1971 published in K.G. No. 36, dated 14.9.1971.)

R(9).  Sitting  of  Courts

1. The court shall ordinarily sit from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a break not exceeding an hour.

2.  No case shall be heard and no judicial act shall be formally announced or done on a holiday. Save in exceptional circumstances of which a full report shall be made to the High Court. 

4.  Judicial  Officers

Relaxed thoughts bring active involvement in Court proceedings as the judicial officers gets more time in the afternoon session. They need not redress the robes to put up appearance on the same day. The dictation, ministerial matters can be done in the afternoon session with free mind. The ideal officers can have a real rest of mind in hot summer with cats nap to re-boot with great freshness.

5.  Lawyers

(i) Legal profession has undergone drastic changes from adversarial to facilitation agents. Consultancy is a major area for an efficient lawyer; in the present work schedule he is restrained from appearing in court unless effective appearance is required. It often makes him running between the court room and office, forcing clerks to follow up the turn of the case, which lead to a representation before the court to ‘pass over’ the case on more than once occasions as the lawyer will be at office when the case is called and he sets off to the court only when hearing of the case is ensured. Ultimately the situation strains the judicial officer, to deal with the same case more than once. Significantly lawyer looses the nuances and subtleties of the court by absenting from the court. The proposed change will resolve the matter either to appear in court or not. The globalization has opened new vistas in the corporate world, young professionals can spend a few hours in said area for adequate remuneration and they can strategize time in the afternoon for the profession. After initial exercise they may lead to full fledged professional in either field.

(ii). A legal professional's main stay is his research inclination, instant dependence of legal software though a boon compared to his elder generation lawyers. They can step into the library with ease as the court proceedings are over by lunch. The true professional can allocate time till 8 p.m. for consultation. They can rearrange the appointments from 6 to 8 p.m. Under the present schedule of work, a committed lawyer returns to his office to turn the pages of a plaint, or final report after conclusion of strenuous trial till 5 p.m. on a working day. Apart from this lawyers have inclination for public life which compete with their professional life. The recommended time schedule will afford sufficient chance in this area. Lawyer will have natural choice during the run of time. On the personal side of a lawyers personal work is not possible under the present schedule as the working hours of any office is against it,   to obtain the birth certificate of child from local body or to pay electricity bill, call on a patient in a hospital at normal time. The psyche of the lawyer is also against such attempts during the working hours.

6. Clerks

On the side of the clerks the access to diaries and judicial notes of the daily proceedings copying from the same are delayed often non-available as the court functions till 5 p.m. Under the recommended schedule this handicap is cured as afternoon session is designed for administrative works. At lower level in trial courts clerks are information providers regarding the stage and nature of the case, correct information improve the efficiency of the lawyer to make effective representation before the court which ultimately benefits the system. On the work side also they are not tailed-behind a lawyer the whole day. The preparation of necessary petitions and drafting are done during the afternoon with an advantage of time.

7. On the customers side the thought of a court involves memories of monotonomy. Unerringly in most cases a date is struck off from a person’s life if he is summoned for a day in any case. We console ourselves arguing that without a committed client no case will have a logical conclusion but one or two such briefs will swallow the entire day of a Court. Under the recommend schedule a client reserves his right to use half of a day for his personal work; wasting half of a day has different degree of impact on a client and his frustration.

Indian tradition stands for early wake up, in Kerala day break is at 5 a.m. and day light is spread at around 5.30 to 6 p.m. invariably. The customers of the system have got sufficient time gap of two hours to travel and to put up appearance before the court as we had to visualize a reasonable distance to the court. The night life is a colonial luxury we are carrying. A sense of justice pleads for a rescheduling of time of the working hours of the court.

h[-in-£bv¡v ac-W-aWn apg§ntÃ?

(By AUz : A\n sF¡c, tIm«bw) 

“FÃm hnip-²À¡pw Hcp `qXImehpw FÃm ]m]n-IÄ¡pw Hcp `mhnIme-hp-apIv. Hcm-fnse Ipä-hm-k-\-bpsS t]cn Abmsf FgpXn Xf-fp-hm³ ]mSn-Ã. ]Icw AbmÄ t]dn-bn-cn-¡p¶ A]-I-S-I-c-amb B A]-N-bs¯ \o¡w sN¿p-I-bmWv thIXv “Pohn-X-ap-bÀ¯p-¶-Xm-hWw \nbaw. am\-hn-I-X-bv¡p-X-Ip-¶-Xm-IWw \oXn-kmcw”.

-- --PÌokvv hn.-BÀ. IrjvW-¿À.1

1967-þse ap¸-¯-©m-aXv tem I½o-j³ dnt¸mÀ«v C´-y³ in£m \nb-a-¯n h[-in-£-bpsS A\n-hm-c-y-Xsb kqNn-¸n-¨p-sIm-ImWv kaÀ¸n-¡-s¸-«-Xv. C´-y-bnse {]tX-yI kml-N-c-y-¯nÂ, hy-Xn-cn-à-amb kmaq-lnI Xe-¯n-ep-ff P\-X-bp-sS-bn-S-bnÂ, `q{]-tZ-i-¯nsâ hnkvXrXn IW-¡n-se-Sp¯v, P\-kw-J-y-bpsS hym-]vXnbpw hnim-e-Xbpw t\m¡n, \nb-ahpw kam-[m-\hpw \ne-\nÀ¯pI F¶ `mcn-¨Xpw {]m[m-\-y-ap-f-f-Xp-amb Bh-iyw ap³\nÀ¯p-t¼mÄ C¶s¯ kml-N-c-y-¯n C´-y-bn h[-in£ \nÀ¯-em-¡p-¶-Xnsâ k½À±w ]co-£n-¡m-\m-hp-¶-X-à (35-mw tem I½o-j³dnt¸mÀ«v, C´-y³ in£m \nbaw, t]Pv 69-þ1967.) F¶m-bn-cp¶p tem I½o-j³ \mec Zim-_vZ-§Ä¡v ap³]v A`n-{]m-b-s¸-«-Xv. AXn\ptij-ap-ff C´-y³ kml-N-cyw amdntbm F¶ Imcyw ]n¶oSv ]T-\-hn-j-b-am-bn-«n-Ã-sb-¦nepw \ne-hn-ep-ff BtKmf kml-N-c-y-§Ä ]cn-tim-[n-¡p-t¼mÄ h[in-£¡v ac-W-aWn apg-§p-hm³ ka-b-ambn F¶pthWw a\-Ên-em-¡p-hm³. 

]pcm-X\ C´-y-bnse ‘BX-Xmbn’(‘BXXm-bn-\-am-bm´w l\-y-tZhm hnNm-c-tbXv’a\p: VIII:350 (]Xn-aq¶p Xcw BX-Xm-bn-I-fpIv, Chsc sImÃp-¶Xp-sImIv tZmj-sam-¶p-apIm-In-Ã)) (A{Ian)-Isf h[n-¡m-sa¶ a\p-kvar-Xn-bn \n¶v C´y C¶v F¯n-t¨À¶n-cn-¡p¶ B[p-\nI \nba kwhn-[m-\-¯nepw Cu ITn-\- in£ \ne-\n¡p¶p F¶Xv ]ucm-WnI Ncn-{X-¯nsâ XpSÀ¨ Xs¶. kp{]ow tImS-Xn-bpsS hn[n- {]-kvXm-h--§Ä¡v hnt[-b-amb sNdnb Xcw Xncn-hp-I-f-ÃmsX h[-in£ C´-y³ in£m\nb-a-¯n \n¶pw aäp Nne \nb-a-§-fn \n¶p \o¡w sN¿-s¸-«n-«n-Ã. IqSmsX Gähpw ]pXp-Xmbn 2013 G{]n aq¶n\v \S-¸n hcp-¯nb {Inan-\ \nba t`Z-K-Xn-bn Kpcp-X-c-ambn apdn-th¸n-¡p¶ _em-ÕwK Ipä-hm-fnsb Xq¡n-te-äm-sa¶v kÀ¡mÀ \nbaw \nÀ½n-¡p-Ibpw sNbvXn-cn-¡p-¶p({Inan-\Â\nba t`Z-KXn, 2013, hIp¸v 376 (Pn).)_. 

h[-in-£-bpsS Imc-y-¯n `mcXw a\p-j-ym-h-Imi {]iv\-§-sfm¶pw ]cn-K-Wn-¡p-¶nà Fs¶mcp Btcm-]Ww ]e a\p-j-ym-h-Imi {]hÀ¯-Icpw D¶-bn-¡p-¶p-Iv. F¶m A´m-cmjv{S a\p-j-ym-h-Imi {]J-ym-]-\-¯nsâ BÀ«n-¡nÄ 30-þ a\p-j-ym-h-Imiw \in-¸n-¡p-¶-hÀ¡v a\p-j-ym-h-Im-i-§Ä _m[-I-aà (UDHR-Section 30- ‘Nothing in UDHR implies to engage in any activity aimed at the distinction of these rights.) F¶v tcJ-s¸-Sp-¯n-bn-«p-f-f-XmWv C´-ysb t]mep-ff Nne cmP-y-§Ä C¶pw h[-in£ \ne-\nÀ¯p-¶-Xn-\-Sn-Øm-\-ambn NqIn-¡m-«p-¶-Xv. 

Bw\Ìn CâÀ\m-j-W-ensâ dnt¸mÀ«-\p-k-cn¨v (Amenesty International: h[-in£tNmZ-yhpw D¯c-§fpw: Al Index, Act 51/002/2007 April.) 131 temI-cm-jv{S-§-fn h[-in£ Hgn-hm-¡n-¡-gn-ªp. 66 temI cmjv{S-§Ä h[-in£ H-gn-hm¡p-hm³ aSn¨v \n¡p-I-bm-Wv. C´y AXnÂs]Sp¶ Hcp cmjv{S-am-Wv. F¶m C¯cw cmPy§fpsS CS-bnÂXs¶ XS-hp-Imsc Xq¡n sImÃp¶hcpsS F®-¯nsâ Imc-y-¯n hmÀjnI icm-icn Ipd-hm-bn-«pIv. 

CXn-\À°w A´m-cmjv{S \oXn-\-ym-b-cwKw h[-in£ \nÀ¯-em-¡p-¶-hsc A\p-Iq-en-¡p-¶pI-v F¶v Xs¶-bm-Wv. h[-in£ Ipä-Ir-X-y-§Ä Ipd-bv¡p-hm³ klm-bn-¡p-¶nà F¶Xpw asämcp ]T\ ^e-ambn a\-Ên-em-¡n-bn-«pIv. h[-in£ \nÀ¯-em-¡n-b-t¸mÄ sIme-¡p-ä-¯nsâ F®w Ipd-hmb Ncn-{X-amWv Im\-Usb kw_-Ôn¨ Bw\-Ìn-bpsS dnt¸mÀ«n ImWp-¶-Xv. DZm-l-c-W-¯n\v Im\-U-bn ]Xn-\m-bncw P\§-fp-sSbnSbn icm-icn sIm-e]m-X-I-\n-c¡v h[-in£ \nÀ¯-em-¡p-¶Xnsâ sXm«v XtehÀjw 309 Bbn-cp-¶p. 1976-þ h[-in£ \nÀ¯-em-¡nb Im\-Ubn 1980 Bb-t¸m-tg¡v sIme-¡p-ä-§-fpsS icm-icn ]Xn-\m-bncw P\-§Ä¡v 2.41 Bbn Ipd-ªp. 2003-þ h[-in£ \nÀ¯-em-¡n-b-Xn\v 27 hÀj-§Ä¡v tijw ]Xn-\m-bncw P\-§Ä¡n-S-bn 1.73 Bbn hoIpw Ipd-bp-I-bm-Wp-Im-b-Xv. 2005-þ AXv 2 Bbn DbÀ¶p-sh-¦nepw h[-in£ DIm-bn-cp¶ Ah-Ø-bn-te-Xn-t\-¡mÄ Ipdhv Xs¶ (Amntesty International : The Death penalty; Questions and Answers. – do-). ac-W-in£ ]cn-l-cn-¡m-\m-hm¯ sXänsâ kµn-Kv²X t]dp¶p F¶mWv temd³kv Imävkv (Lawrence Katz- ‘Prison Conditions, Capital Punishment and Deterrence.’) A`n-{]m-b-s¸-«-Xv.

AXp-sIm-ImWv A´m-cmjv{S Icm-dp-I-fnepw {]J-ym-]-\-§-fnepw t{]mt«m-t¡m-fp-I-fnepw h[-in£ Hgn-hm-¡-s¸-Sp-Ibpw a\p-jy PohnXw am\-y-ambn kwc-£n-¡-s¸-Sp-Ibpw thW-sa¶ Nn´m-K-Xn¡v {]map-JyapIm--b-Xv. C´y CtX-hsc Cu hnj-b-¯n Hcp \nb-X-amb ]T\w ASp¯ Ime-s¯m¶pw \S-¯n-bn-«n-Ã. F¶m PÌokvv hn.-BÀ. IrjvW-¿-cpÄs¸-sS-bp-ff hnhn[ \nba X{´-Ú-·m-cpsS hn[n {]kvXm-h-§-fn-eqsS h[-in£bpsS BbpÊv C´-y-bn Npcp-¡n-s¡mIv h¶n-cp-¶-Xm-Wv. 2013-þse {Inan-\ \nba t`Z-KXn h[-in-£sb C¶pw kÀ¡mÀ \oXn-I-cn-¡p¶p F¶v hy-à-am-¡n-¡-gn-ªp.

C´y H¸v h¨v I£n-bm-bn-«p-ff CâÀ\m-j-W Ih-\âv t^mÀ knhn Bâv s]mfn-än-¡Â ssdävknsâ (sF.-kn.-kn.-]n.-BÀ) Bdm-as¯ BÀ«n-¡n-fn-emWv h[-in£ hne-¡n-s¡m-Ip-ff A´m-cmjv{S \nbaw {]J-ym-]n-¨n-«p-f-f-Xv (Section 6 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), 1982). BÀ«n-¡n-fnsâ \memw D]-h-Ip-¸n h[-in£ hn[n-¡-s¸« FÃm-hÀ¡pw s]mXp-am-¸v, Zb, eLq-I-cWw F¶n-h-bv¡p-ff AÀl-X-bp-sI¶pw \nÀt±-i-apIv. IqSmsX ]Xn-s\«v hb-Ên\p Xmsg-bp-f-f-h-tctbm, KÀ`nWn Bb kv{Xotbtbm h[-in-£bv¡v hnt[-b-cm-¡-cp-sX¶pw kqNn-¸n-¡p-¶p. FÃm cmjv{S-§fpw Cu \nÀt±-i-§Ä Ime-Xm-akw IqSmsX \S-¸m-¡-W-sa¶pw CXn \njvIÀjn-¡p-¶p-Iv. 

ap¸¯©m-aXv \nba I½o-j³ h[-in-£sb \ne-\nÀ¯p¶-Xn-\p-ff kml-N-c-y-§Ä dnt¸mÀ«v sNbvXXv 1967-þ-em-Wv. A¶p-Im-bn-cp¶ C´-y³ kml-N-c-y-§Ä C¶p-f-fXp t]mse Bbn-cp-¶n-Ã. h[-in-£-bpsS Imc-y-¯n ]pXn-sbmcp tem I½o-js\ \ntbm-Kn-t¡-IXv A\n-hm-c-y-am-bn-cn-¡p-¶p. acWw sImIv Hcm-fnse \·-tbbpw IqSn sImÃp¶p F¶ Nn´m-K-Xn-bpsS ASn-Øm-\-¯n PÌokv hn.-BÀ. IrjvW-¿À Xsâ hn[n-{]-kvXm-h-§-fn-eq-sSbpw hn{ia PohnX Ime-L-«-¯nepw \ÂInb ktµ-i-§Ä h[-in-£sb kw_-Ôn¨v ap³\n-c-bn \n¡p¶ hmZ-ap-J-§-fm-Wv. C´-y³ kml-N-cyw F¶v {]tX-yI taJe h[-in£ \ne-\nÀ¯n-s¡mIv ]cn-K-Wn-¡p-¶-Xn AÀ°-an-sÃ-¶mWv a\p-jy kvt\ln-I-fpsS \ne-]m-Sv. h[-in-£-bpsS Ncn{Xw C´-y³ \oXn-\ymb hy-h-Øn-Xn-bn-eqsS ]cn-tim-[n-¡p-t¼mÄ hy-à-am-¡p-¶Xv D¶X \oXn-]o-T-§Ä h[-in£\ne-\nÀ¯p-¶-Xn-s\ kw_-Ôn¨v hnap-JX ]peÀ¯-W-sa¶v Xs¶-bm-Wv. F¶m CXv \S-¸n hcp-t¯I kml-N-c-y-§-fn ]c-tam-¶X \oXn ]oThpw cmjv{S-]-Xn-bpsS A[n-Im-c-§fpw hogvN hcp-¯p-¶p-Iv F¶-Xnsâ ]cn-WnX ^e-amWv, Hcm-fnse Xn·-bpsS Awi-§-tfm-sSm¸w B hy-àn-bnse \·-Isf IqSn Hcn-¡epw Xncn¨v sImIp hcm-\m-h¯ hn[w \jvS-s¸-Sp-¯p-¶-Xv. 

A´m-cmjvv{S \ne-]m-Sp-IÄ

1948-þse bqWn-th-gvk Un¢-td-j³ Hm^v lyq-a³ ssdävkv (bp.Un.-F-¨v.-BÀ) BWv Pohn-¡p-hm-\p-ff a\p-j-ysâ Ah-Imiw BZ-y-ambn A´m-cmjv{S thZn-bn-se-¯n-¨-Xv. A´mcmjv{S a\p-j-ym-h-Imi {]J-ym-]-\-¯nsâ (Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): 1948 – Articles 3 & 5.) BÀ«n-¡nÄ A©n Bscbpw {Iqchpw a\p-j-y-Xzcln-Xhpw Ah-a-Xn-¡p-¶-Xp-amb ]oV-\-§Ät¡m ]cn-N-c-W-§Ät¡m in£IÄt¡m hnt[-b-am-¡-cpXv F¶ \nÀt±iw h[-in-£bv¡v FXn-cmb \nÀt±-i-amWv F¶v h-[-in-£sb FXnÀ¡p-¶-hÀ D¶-bn-¡p-¶p. h[-in-£sb, XpSÀ¶v Hgn-hm-¡p-hm-\p-ff aäv bmsXm¶pw A´m-cmjv{S a\p-j-ym-h-Imi {]J-ym-]-\-§-fn-sÃ-¦nepw in£-I-fpsS a\p-j-y-Xzcmln-Xyw F¶ ]Zw h[in£-s¡-Xn-cmb BZy Nph-Sp-h-bv]mbn ImWp-¶-h-cpIv. PohnXw \ne-\nÀ¯p-hm-\p-ff kp{]-[m\ a\p-jymh-ImiamWv Cu \nÀt±-i-s¯-¯p-SÀ¶v `mc-X- -`c-W-L-S-\-bnse auen-Im-h-Im-i-§-fn H¶mbn 21-þmw A\p-tO-Z-¯n tNÀ¯n-«p-f-fXv (Constitution of India Article 21-Right to Life.). 

h[-in£ \S-¸m-¡p-t¼mÄ AXn-I-Tn-\-amb thZ-\-Ifpw hnj-a-X-Ifpw A\p-`hn¡p¶ a\p-jy ico-c-s¯-¸än Nn´n-¡-W-sa-¶Xpw Ch-bn-ÃmsXbpff acWw \ÂIp-hm³ km[n-¡m-¯Xp sImIv ac-W-in£ \ÂIp-hm³ ]mSn-sÃ-¶p-amWv saIvkn-¡³ tem kvIqfnse \nba hnZ-Kv²-\mb Zho-µÀ kn±p An-{]m-b-s¸-«-Xv {it²-b-amWv (On appeal; Reviewing Eight Arguments against Capital Punishment; 2009.) . ac-W-in£ am{X-ambn Hcp Ipä-hm-fn¡pw \ÂIp-hm-\m-hn-Ã. AXnsâ A\nÀÆ-N-\o-b-amb thZ\ Hcp in£m hn[n-bnepw Dt±-in-¡p-¶panÃ. thZ-\-bn-ÃmsX F§s\ h[-in£ \S-¸m-¡p-hm-\mWv? CXv {]mIr-Xhpw {Iqc-hp-amb in£m hn[n-bm-Wv. AXp-sImIv Xs¶ A´m-cmjv{S a\p-j-ym-h-Imi {]J-ym-]-\-¯n\v FXn-cm-Wv. 

XpSÀ¶v BtKmf Xe-¯n h[-in-£-s¡-Xn-cmb hmZ-K-Xn-IÄ Øm\w ]nSn-¨Xv 1966-þse CâÀ\m-j-W Ih-\âv Hm¬ knhn Bâv s]mfn-än-¡Â ssdävkv (sF.-kn.-kn.-]n.-BÀ) AwKo-I-cn-¡-s¸-«-tXm-sS-bm-Wv. temI cmP-y-§Ä \nba \nÀ½mWw \S-¯p-t¼mÄ ]n´p-S-tcI amXr-I-bmWv Cu A´m-cmjv{S amÀ¤ \nÀt±-iw. Cu Ih-\ânsâ Bdmw BÀ«n-¡n-fn Pohn-¡m-\p-ff Ah-Imiw \ntj-[n-¡-cp-sX¶v \nÀt±-in-¨n-«p-f-f-Xn-t\m-sSm¸w h[-in£ Hgn-hm-¡n-bn-«nÃm¯ cmP-y-§Ä C¯cw in£m-hn-[n-Isf D¶X tImSXn hn[n-I-fpsS ASn-Øm-\-¯n A]qÀÆ-ambpw Gähpw Kuc-h-ap-ff Ipä-Ir-X-y-§-fn am{X-ambpw \S-¸m-¡-W-sa¶v tcJ-s¸-Sp-¯n-bn-«pIv (Section 6, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966.).

CXn\v tijw 1989-þse sFI-y-cm-jv{S-k`--bpsS cIm-aXv Hm]vj-W t{]mt«m-t¡mÄ AXnsâ Bap-J-¯n C{]-Imcw ]d-bp-¶p. h[-in£ CÃm-Xm-¡p-¶Xv a\p-j-ym-h-Im-i-§-fpsS kp{]-[m\ ]ptcm-K-Xn-bmWv Im«p-¶Xv. “h[-in£ Hgn-hm-¡p-¶-Xn-\p-ff FÃm \S-]-Sn-Ifpw Pohn-Xm-h-Im-i-¯nsâ ]qÀ®-amb hnIm-k-¯nsâ t]cn ]cn-K-Wn-¡-t¸-tS-I-Xm-Wv”(1989, UN Document No. A/44/49, G.A. Resolution 44/128.)bqtdm-]y³ I¬sh³j³ t^mÀ s{]m«-£³ Hm^v lyq-a³ ssdävkv Bâv ^I-saâ {^oUw 1982-þ AwKo-I-cn¨ t{]mt«m-t¡mÄ h[-in-£-s¡-Xn-cmbn ià-amb `mj-bmWv D]-tbm-Kn-¨n-«p-f-f-Xvv (Protocol No.6 of Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms; available at http;//conventions coe. Int/treaty.). 1990-þse HmÀK-ss\-tk-j³ t^mÀ Ata-cn-¡³ tÌävknsâ P\-d Akw»n AwKo-I-cn¨ t{]mt«mt¡mfpw (American Convention on Human Rights, November 22, 1969 Article 4 & 2-6) kam-[m\ ka-b¯v h[-in£ d±m-¡-W-sa¶v Bh-i-y-s¸-«n-«pIv. bp²-Im-e¯v h[-in£ AwKo-I-cn-¨n-«p-IqSn Ata-cn-¡³ sFI-y\mSpIÄ Cu t{]mt«m-t¡mÄ AwKo-I-cn-¨n-«nà F¶Xv asämcp hkvXp-X-bmWv. ]Xn-s\«v hb-Ên Xmsg-bp-ff Pph-ss\ Ipä-hm-fn-Isf hnSp-X sN¿p-¶Xv ]c-am-h[n ]cn-K-Wn¨v sImIv h[-in-£bpw Poh-]-c-y-´hpw Hgn-hm-¡-W-sa¶v sFI-y-cm-jv{S-k-`-bpsS I¬sh³j³ Hm^v ssNÂUv ssdävkv tcJ-s¸-Sp-¯p-¶p. (Article 37, Convention on the Rights of Child; U.N.G.A.O.R., 44th Sessions, November 1989)

C§-s\-bp-ff hnhn[ cmP-y-§-fp-sSbpw cmP-ym-´c kwL-S-\-I-fp-sSbpw Xocp-am-\-§fpw AwKo-I-mc-§fpw GtIm-]n-¸n¨p-sImIv sFI-y-cm-jv{S-k-`-bpsS P\-d AÊw»n 2007-þ Hcp {]tabw ]mÊm-¡n. (Moratorium on the use of Death Penalty, UN General Assembly, 63rd Session - Resolution) FÃm cmP-y-§fpw h[-in£ \S-¸m-¡p-¶-Xn\v samd-t«m-dnbw {]J-ym-]n-¡-W-sa-¶m-bn-cp¶p {]ta-b-¯nse Bh-i-yw. \qän A©v cmjv{S-§Ä {]ta-bs¯ A\p-Iq-en-¨-t¸mÄ C´y DÄs¸sS \mÂ]¯n F«v cmP-y-§Ä FXnÀ¯v thm«v sN¿p-I-bmWv DIm-b-Xv. 2010-þ CXp kw_-Ôn¨ aq¶m-as¯ {]tabw hoIpw ]cn-K-W-\bv¡v h¶-t¸mÄ Bw\Ìn CâÀ\m-j-W-ensâ dnt¸mÀ«v (Act No. 51/0005/2010 of 11th Nov. 2010-www.amnesty.org.) {]Imcw \qän-b©v cmP-y-§Ä A\p-Iq-en-¡p-Ibpw ap¸-¯n-sb«v cmP-y-§Ä FXnÀ¡p-Ibpw ap¸-¯n-bmdv cmjv{S-§Ä A`n-{]m-b-an-ÃmsX amdn \n¡p-I-bp-am-bn-cp-¶p. Npcp-¡-¯n thms«-Sp-¸n ]s¦-Sp¯ 181 temI-cm-P-y-§-fn 38 cmP-y-§-fpsS FXnÀ¸v am{X-amWv h[-in£ \nÀ¯-em-¡p-¶-Xn\v XS-Ê-am-bn-«p-f-f-Xv. AXn C´-ybpw s]Sp-¶p. A´m-cmjv{S s]mXp-hn-Im-c-§Äs¡m-¸-aà C´-y-bpsS A´m-cm-jv{S-cw-Ks¯ h[-in-£sbkw_-Ôn¨ \ne-]mSv F¦nepw C´-y-bnse \oXn-\-ymb kwhn-[m\w h[-in-£-s¡-Xn-cmb BtKmf hnIm-cs¯ ]qÀ®-ambpw Ah-K-Wn-¨n-Ã. kp{]ow tImSXn ASp-¯-Im-e-¯mbn h[-in-£sb ]cn-jvI-cn-¡p-hm³ {ia-§Ä \S-¯p-¶p-Iv. Imc-y-§Ä C{X-sbms¡ Bb-t¸mgpw C´-y-bpsS \nba I½o-j³ D]m-[-y-£-\m-bn-cp¶ PÌokv.F³.Fw L«m-sS-bpsS ]T-\-¯n h[-in£ \S-¸m-¡p-¶-Xn\v Ah-km\w IsI-¯nb ‘henb Xc-t¡-Sn-Ãm¯’aq¶p amÀ¤-§Ä Xq¡n sImÃpI, shSn-sh¨v sImÃpI, hnjw Ip¯n sh¨v sImÃpI F¶n-h-bm-bn-cp-¶p. 

Ch-bvs¡ms¡ CS-bn-emWv 1973 hsc \ne-hn-ep-Im-bn-cp¶ h[-in-£-tbm-Sp-ff A\p-Iq-e\w kp{]ow tImS-Xn-bn tNmZyw sN¿-s¸-«-Xv. PKv³taml³kn§v þ D¯À{]-tZiv kÀ¡mÀ (AIR (All India Reporter) 1973 SC 947: Jaganmohan Singh v.State of U.P.) F¶ tIkn PÌokv ]te-¡À BWv h[-in£ `mcX `c-W-L-S-\-bnse BÀ«n-¡nÄ ]s¯m³]-Xn ]d-bp¶ A`n-{]mb kzm-X-{´-y-¯nsâbpw Ccp-]¯n H¶n ]d-bp¶ Pohn-¡m-\p-ff Ah-Im-i-¯ntâbpw ]Xn-\memw A\p-tO-Z-¯nse Xpey kml-N-c-y-¯n Xpey Ah-k-c¯ntâbpw ewL-\-am-sW¶ hmZw ]cn-tim-[n¨v Xf-fn-¡-f-ª-Xv. `mcX `c-W-L-S-\bpw in£m-\n-b-a-§fpw \nb-am-\p-kr-X-amb in£-I-fn H¶mbn h[-in-£sb Icp-Xp-¶pIv F¶m-bn-cp¶p Cu tIknse hn[n \ym-b-¯nse A`n-{]m-bw. 

kp{]ow tImSXn C{]-Im-c-samcp Xocp-am-\-¯n F¯n-t¨À¶ kml-N-c-y-¯n Hcp ]p\ÀhnNn-´\w Akm-²-y-am-Ip-am-bn-cp¶ L«-¯n-emWv Hcp sImÃ-¯n-\Iw Cu hn[nsb d±m-¡n-s¡mIv --PÌokvv hn.-BÀ. IrjvW-¿À h[-in-£-bpsS Imc-y-¯n hn¹-h-I-c-ambn CS-s]-«-Xv. 1974-þse FUnK A¶½ þ B{Ô-{]-tZiv kÀ¡mÀ (BßIY :þPÌokv hn.-BÀ. IrjvW-¿À, A²ymbw 19, t]Pv 213.) F¶ tIkn-em-bn-cp¶p AXp-hsc DIm-bn-cp¶ [mc-W-Isf hgn-Xn-cn¨v hnSp¶ hn[n-\-ymbw ]pd-s¸-Sp-hn-¨-Xv. h[-in£ CÃm-Xm-¡p-¶-Xn-\p-ff ]cn-{i-a-¯nsâ Imc-y-¯n C´-y-bnse ap³\nc \ym-bm-[n-]-\mbn PÌokvv hn.-BÀ. IrjvW-¿À amdn-b-Xv Cu tIknse hn[n-{]-kvXm-h-¯n-eq-sS-bm-Wv. sNbvX Ipäw am{X-aÃ, Ipä-hm-fnbpsS {]mbw, enwKw, kmaq-lnI km¼-¯nIkml-N-c-y-§Ä, am\-knIk½À±-§Ä F¶nh IqSn IW-¡n-se-Sp¯p thWw in£ \nÀ®-bn-t¡-IXv F¶v PÌokvvhn.-BÀ. IrjvW-¿À \nÀt±-in-¨p. Ncn{Xw, am\h kwkvIm-cs¯ `oI-c-hm-Z-§-fn \n¶v am\-hn-I-X-bn-tebv¡v ]cn-hÀ¯\w sN¿p-I-bmWv F¶-Xn-\m h[-in£ AXn-s\mcp Xncn-¨-Sn-bm-h-cpXv F¶ ZoÀL-ho-£-W-]qÀÆ-ap-ff A`n-{]m-bhpw At±lw tcJ-s¸-Sp-¯n. 

FUnK A¶-½-bpsS tIkn A\-kqb F¶p t]cp-ff Hcp kv{Xotbbpw Ipªn-t\bpw sIme-s¸-Sp-¯nb Ipä-¯n-\mWv A¶-½bv¡v h[-in£ \ÂIn-b-Xv. A¶-½-bpsS Imap-I-\m-bn-cp¶ hn`m-c-y-\mb Hcp CSb bphm-hn\v A\-kq-b-bp-ambn ASp-¸-ap-sI¶pw _Ôw ]peÀ¯p-¶p-sh-¶p-ap-ff IsI¯-emWv A¶-½sb Cu IrX-y-¯n\v t{]cn-¸n-¨-Xv. kao-]s¯ Ipän-¡m-«n \n¶v e`n¨ PUw A¶-½-bp-tS-sX¶v kwi-bn-¡p¶ hn[w `wKn-bmbn IrXyw \nÀh-ln-¡p-Ibpw sNbvXp. C{Xbpw \njvTq-c-Ir-X-y-am-bn-cp-¶n«p IqSn FUnK A¶-½bv¡v \ÂInb h[-in£ PÌnkv hn.-BÀ.IrjvW-¿À Poh-]-c-y-´-ambn Ipdhp sN¿p-I-bm-Wp-Im-b-Xv. A¶s¯ No^v PÌokv Fw.-F³.td t]mepw Cu \S-]-Sn-bn `c-W-L-S\m hncp-²X DtIm-sb¶v kwibw {]I-Sn-¸n-¨-Xmbn PÌnkv. hn.-BÀ.IrjvW-¿À Xsâ Bß-IY (BßIY PÌo-kv. hn.-BÀ. IrjvW-¿À, A²-ymbw 19, t]Pv 213.) bn kqNn-¸n-¡p-¶pIv. ]n¶oSv `c-W-L-S\m s_©v Cu hn[n d±m-¡n. h[-in-£-bmWv sIme-]m-X-I-¯n-\p-ff D¯-a-in£sb¶v AXp-hsc DIm-bn-cp¶ k¦Â]w Xncp-¯n-¡p-dn¨v h[-in£ hn[n-¡p-¶-Xn\v {]tX-yI kml-N-c-y-§Ä \njvIÀjn¨v XpS-§nb hn[n-bm-bn-cp-¶p, PÌokvv hn.-BÀ.IrjvW-¿cptS-Xv. Ct¸mÄ hn{i-a-Po-hnXw \bn-¡p-¶- h-tbm-[n-I-\mb At±lw h[-in£ \nÀ¯-em-¡-W-sa¶v kÀ¡m-cp-I-tfmSv Ct¸mgpw At]-£n-¨v sIm-In-cn-¡p-I-bmWv F¶-XmWv Gsd Zb-\o-bw. 

XpSÀ¶v 1980-þ-emWv _¨³kn§v þ ]©m_v kÀ¡mÀ (AIR 1980 SC 898, Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab, Constitutional Bench: Justice Y.B Chandrachud and Others.) tIkv kp{]ow-tIm-S-Xn-bpsS `c-W-L-S\m s_©nsâ ]cn-K-W\¡v h¶-Xv. CXn\p ap³]v {Inan-\ \S-]Sn \nbaw 1973-þ ]p\-cm-hn-jvI-cn-¡p-Ibpw 354(3) hIp¸p {]Imcw h[-in£ \ÂIp¶ ]£w {]tX-yI Imc-W-§Ä (Special Reasons) -tcJs¸-Sp¯Wsa¶v \njvIÀjn¡pIbpw sNbvXn-cp-¶p. 1979-þ PÌnkv hn.-BÀ. IrjvW-¿À, DÄs¸« kp{]nw tImSXn _©v `qcn-]£ Xocp-am-\-{]-Imcw cmtP-{µ-{]-km-Zv-þ-D-¯À{]-tZiv kÀ¡mÀ (AIR 1979 SC 916, Rajendraprasad v. State of UP, Bench: J.V.R.Krishna Iyer & J.Desai.) tIkn h[-in-£-¡p-ff tIkn {]tX-yI Imc-W-§Ä, Ipäs¯ t\m¡n-bÃ, Ipä-hm-fn-Isf t\m¡n Xocp-am-\n-¡-W-sa¶v \nÀt±-in-¨n-cp-¶p. 1978-þse ta\Im KmÔn þ C´-y³ bqWn-b³ (1978 SCC 248: Maneka Gandhi v. Union of India, Bench: J.M.Hidayathulla.) tIknse hn[n-{]-kvXm-h-¯nsâ NphSv]nSn-¨m-bn-cp¶p Cu Xocp-am-\w. Cu tIkn PÌokv Fw. lnZmb¯p-f-f-bpsS t\Xr-X-z-¯n-em-bn-cp¶p Xocp-am-\-sa-¦nepw AXnepw PÌnkv hn.-BÀ. IrjvW-¿-cpsS kz-m[o\w {]I-S-am-bn-cp-¶p. bpàn-`-{Z-Xbpw `c-W-L-S-\-bnse auen-Im-h-Im-i-§-fpsS Iq«mb hmb-\bpw Df-fn IcpXn thWw GsXmcp in£m-hn-[nbpw {]kvXm-hn-t¡-IXv F¶-Xm-bn-cp¶p Cu tIknse hn[n-bpsS cXv\-¨p-cp-¡w. 

1979-þse cmtP-{µ-{]-km-Zv-þ-D-¯À{]-tZiv kÀ¡mÀ tIkn-emWv ‘Poh-]-c-y´w in£ \nbm-a-Ihpw h[-in£ A]qÀÆhpw F¶ \nÀt±iw DIm-b-Xv. F¶m CtX XpSÀ¶v 1980-þse _¨³kn§v þ]©m_v kÀ¡mÀ tIkv `c-W-L-S\m _©n\v d^À sNbvX-t¸mÄ h[-in-£-bpsS Imc-y-¯n Bi-b-¡p-g¸w \ne-\n¡p-¶p F¶m-bn-cp¶p PÌnkv ssIemkw A`n-{]m-b-s¸-«-Xv. PKv³tam-l³ tIknse `c-W-L-S\m _©nsâ A`n-{]m-bhpw cmtP-{µ-{]-kmZv þD¯À{]-tZiv kÀ¡mÀ tIknse PÌnkv hn.-BÀ. IrjvW-¿À, PÌnkv tZimbn F¶n-h-cpsS A`n-{]m-bhpw X½n sshcp-²-y-§-fp-sI-¶m-bn-cp¶ NqIn-¡m-Wn-¨-Xv. XpSÀ¶mWv h[-in-£-bpsS Imcy-¯n A]qÀÆ-§-fn A]qÀÆw tIkp-I-fn am{Xw h[-in£ F¶ kn²m´w cq]wsImI _¨³kn§v tIkv kp{]ow tImS-Xn-bpsS `c-W-L-S\m _©v ]cn-tim-[n¨v D¯-chv \ÂIn-b-Xv. cmtP-{µ-{]-kmZv tIkn\p tijw Iogvt¡m-S-Xn-IÄ¡v h[-in£ hn[n-¡m³ A[n-ImcansÃ-¶m-bn-cp¶p A¸o `mKs¯ hmZw. ‘A]qÀÆ-§-fn A]qÀÆw h[-in-£’(Rarest of Rare Theory) F¶ kn²m´w DS-se-Sp-¯Xv h[-in£ icn sh¨psImIp-ff tIkn-em-bn-cp¶p F¶-XmWv sshcp-²-yw. A©p PUvPn-am-cpÄs¸« `c-W-L-S\m s_©n PÌnkv ]n.-F³. `K-hXn am{X-am-bn-cp¶p adn¨v A`n-{]m-b-s¸-«-Xv. C´-y³ in£m \nb-a-¯nse 302-þmw hIp¸v, `c-W-L-S-\-bnse ]Xn-\mev, Ccp-]-¯n-H¶v F¶o auen-Im-h-Im-i-§Ä¡v hncp-²-am-sW¶v (AIR 1980 SC 898: Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab, Bench, J.P.M.Bhagavathi) At±lw hntbm-P\ hn[n tcJ-s¸-Sp-¯n. 302-þmw hIp-¸n Hcp Ipä-hm-fn-bpsS Poh³ Ah-km-\n-¸n-¡p-¶-Xn\v Imc-W-§-sfm¶pw tcJ-s¸-Sp-¯n-bn-«nà F¶-Xm-bn-cp¶p At±lw IsI¯nb Imc-Ww. F´m-bmepw A¶p-ap-X ‘A]qÀÆ-§-fn A]qÀÆw’tIkp-I-fn s]Sp-¶-XmtWm Hmtcmh[-in-£bpw F¶v tImS-Xn-bn ]cn-tim-[n-¡p-hm³ XpS-§n. PÌokv hn.-BÀ. IrjvW-¿-cpsS [oc-amb \S-]-Sn-IÄ Cu Xocp-am-\-§Ä¡p ]n¶n-ep-sI-¶Xv \nkvXÀ¡amb Imcy-am-Wv. 

XpSÀ¶v 1983-þ cIv IpSpw-_-§Ä X½n-ep-ff hg-¡ns\ XpSÀ¶v kv{XoIfpw Ip«n-I-fp-a-S-§p¶ ]Xn-t\gp t]sc sIme-s¸-Sp-¯nb tIkv kp{]ow tImS-Xn-bpsS ]cn-K-W-\¡v h¶p. a¨n-kn§vþ]©m_v kÀ¡mÀ ((1983) 3 SCC 470: Machhi Singh & Others v.State of Punjab.) tIkn a¨n-kn§v DÄs¸sS aq¶v t]À¡v \ÂInb h[-in£ icn sh¨p-sh-¦nepw ‘A]qÀÆ-§-fn A]qÀÆw’tIkv IsI¯p-¶-Xn-\p-ff {]tX-yI kml-N-c-y-§Ä Fs´m-s¡-sb¶v Cu tIkn hni-Z-ambn {]Xn-]m-Zn-¨n-cp-¶p. in£-bpsS e£yw in£mÀlsâ ]cn-hÀ¯-\hpw ]p\-c-[n-hm-khpw BsW¶v Cu hn[n-\-ym-b-¯n {]kvXm-hn-¡p-I-bpIm-bn. 

C´-y³ in£m \nb-a-¯nse 303-þmw hIp¸v d±m-¡n-s¡m-Ip-ff an¯p-þ-]-©m_v kÀ¡mÀ (AIR 1983 SC 473:Mithu v. State of Punjab.)tIknsâ Dug-am-bn-cp¶p ASp-¯-Xv. C´-y³ in£m \nbaw 303-þmw hIp-¸-\p-k-cn¨v Po-h-]-c-y´w in£n-¡-s¸« HcmÄ sIme-]m-XIw sN¿p¶ ]£w AbmÄ¡v h[-in£ \ÂIWw F¶m-bn-cp¶p \nbaw. Cu hIp¸v in£m\nb-a-¯n \n¶pw FSp¯p If-ªp-sImIv PÌokv ssh.-_n. N{µ-Nq-Vsâ t\Xr-X-z-¯n-ep-ff _©v hn[n ]pd-s¸-Sp-hn-¨p. Ipä-Ir-X-y-¯n\v h[-in£ \nÀ_-Ô-ambpw \ÂI-W-sa¶v \S-]-Sn-bmWv Cu hIp¸v Xs¶ Hgn-hm-¡p-¶-Xn\v CS-bm-¡n-b-Xv. CXv h[-in-£m hntcm-[n-IÄ¡v Hcp hnP-b-ambn IW-¡m-¡-s¸-Sp-¶p. 

Zo\-þ-C-´-y³ bqWn-b³ (AIR 1983 SC 115: Deena v. Union of India; Hanging is Illegal.) tIkn Xq¡n-s¡m-Ãp-¶Xv `c-W-L-S\m hncp-²-amtWm F¶v ]cn-tim-[n¨ kp{]nw tImSXn, AXv `c-W-L-S\m hncp-²-a-söv IsI-¯n. Xq¡n-s¡m-Ãp-¶Xv {Iqc-am-bn-«p-ff h[-in£m amÀ¤-a-sÃ-¶-Xn-\m 21-þmw auen-Im-h-Imiw AXv ewLn-¡p-¶n-Ã. F¶m 1986-þse AtämÀWn P\-dÂ, C³U-yþe-Nva-tZhn (AIR 1986 SC 467:Attorney General of India v. Lachma Devi.) F¶ tIkn s]mXp-Ø-e¯v Xq¡n-s¡m-Ãp-¶Xv `c-W-L-S\m hncp-²-am-b-Xp-sImIv Pbn am\p-h-ep-I-fn \n¶v A¯cw N«-§Ä \o¡w sN¿-W-sa¶v \nÀt±-in-¨n-cp-¶p. AÃm-hp-±o³ anb³-þ-_o-lmÀ kÀ¡mÀ (AIR 1989 SC 1456: Allauddin Mian v. State of Bihar, Bench J.Ahmadi.) tIkn PÌokv Al-½Zn h[-in-£tbm PbnÂin-£tbm F¶ Xocp-am-\-¯n F¯p-¶-Xn\p ap³]v, hmZ-ap-J-§Ä DbÀ¯p-¶-Xn\v in£mÀl-s\¶v IsI-¯n-b-Xn\p tijw kabw A\p-h-Zn-¡-W-sa¶v D¯-c-hn-«p. am{X-aÃ, Hcp \ym-bm-[n-]\v Ipä-hm-fn¡v h[-in£ \ÂIp-¶-Xn-\p-X-Ip¶ Imc-W-§Ä \nb-X-ambn ]d-bm-\m-hp-¶n-Ãm-sb-¦n AXnepw Ipdª in£ \ÂtI-IXm-sW¶pw At±lw tcJ-s¸-Sp-¯n-bn-cp-¶p. 

h[-in£ Hcp ‘\oXn-\-ymb kwhm-Z-’ambn XpS-cp-¶-Xnsâ e£-W-§-fmWv Cu hn[n-I-fn ImWp-¶-Xv. C´-y³ in£m hn[n-bn h[-in£ \oXo-I-cn-¡-s¸«p XpS-cp-¶Xpw A´m-cmjv{S \oXn-I-fn h[-in£ \oXo-I-cn-¡p-hm-\m-hmsX \ne-\n¡p-¶Xpw PqUoj-y-dnsb _m[n¨p F¶v hy-àw. CXp IqSmsX am\-hnI aqe-y-§-fpsS DZm-¯-amb kzm-[o\w PpUo-j-y-dn¡v GXp hnt[-\bpw Hcmsf sIme-s¸-Sp-¯p-¶-Xn \n¶v Hgn-hm-¡-W-sa¶ t{]-cW \ÂIp-¶pIv. F¶m Ipä-hm-fn-IÄ IqSp-X {IqcX ImWn-¡p¶ L«-§-fn kpJ-I-c-amb PbnÂhmkw Ahs\ IqSp-X kp`n-£\pw kpµ-c-\p-am¡n \ne-\nÀ¯p¶ Ah-Ø-bp-apIv. s{Sbn-\n ]oV-\-{i-a-¯n-\n-S¡v sImÃ-s¸« kuay F¶ s]¬Ip-«n-bpsS sIme-]m-X-In-bmb tKmhn-µ-¨man F¶ `n£-¡m-csâ C¶s¯ cq]w Bscbpw AXn-i-bn-¸n-¡p-¶-Xm-Wv. Chsc kaq-l-¯n Ak-z-Ø-X-bp-f-hm-Ip¶ hn[w kpc-£n-Xhpw km[m-cW P\-§Ä¡v {]m]-y-am-hm-¯-hn[w ‘BUw-_c PohnX’\ne-hm-c-¯n kq£n-¡p-Ibpw sNt¿Inhcp¶ kml-N-c-y-§Ä hne-bn-cp-¯m-Xn-cn-¡p-hm-\m-hn-Ã. apwss_-bn B{I-aWw \S-¯nb APva Ik-_ns\ kwc-£n-¡p-¶-Xn\p am{Xw kÀ¡mÀ Nne-h-gn-¨Xv tImSn-I-fm-Wv. Cu Ah-Ø-IÄ X½n-ep-ff kwLÀjw aqew P\-Xsb Xo{h-hm-Z-¯n \n¶v amän \nÀ¯pI F¶ e£-y-¯n ]e-t¸mgpw h[-in£ F¶ {]mIrX \S-]-Sn-bn-tev tImS-Xn-Isf Ct¸mgpw hen¨n-g-¡m-dpIv. 

A]qÀÆ-§-fn A]qÀÆw ac-W-in£ hn[n-¡m-hp¶ tIkp-IÄ Xocp-am\nt¡IXv Ipä-Ir-X-y-¯n\v arKo-bX sImIv am{X-am-h-cpXv F¶v ]©n-þ-D-¯À{]-tZiv kÀ¡mÀ (AIR1998 SC 2726: Panchi v. State of Uttar Pradesh) tIkn A`n-{]m-b-s¸«ncp-¶p. kzman {i²m-\-µ-þ-IÀ®m-SI kÀ¡mÀ (2008 (3) KLT SN 62 (C.No. 77) SC = AIR 2008 SC 3040: Swamy Shradhananda@Murali Manohar Mishra v.State of Karnataka.) tIkn h[-in£ Hgn-hm-¡n-sb¦nepw Poh-]-c-y´w in£-sb-¶m Pohn-Xm-h-km\w hsc-bm-sW¶pw ]Xn-\mep hÀj-aà F¶pw hn[n-bp-Im-bn. Ipä-hm-fn-bpsS in£ Poh-]-c-y-´-ambn Ipdhp sN¿p¶ L«-¯n ]Xn-\mep hÀjs¯ Pbn hmk-¯n\p tijw Ipä-hmfn hoIpw kaq-l-a-²-y-¯n Ah-X-cn-¡p-¶Xv {i²m-\µ tIknse hn[n-tbmsS kp{]owtImSXn Ah-km-\n-¸n-¨p. h[-in-£sb Hgn-hm-¡p-¶-Xn-\p-ff Hcp NqIp-]-e-I-bmbn Cu hn[nsb ImWmw. 

Ch-bvs¡Ãmw A\p-_-Ô-am-bmWv 2009-þse kt´mjv _mcn-bÀ ((2009) 6 SCC 498: Santhoshkumar Shashi Bhushan Barier v. State of Maharashtra.) tIknse D¯-chv kp{]ow tImSXn ]pd-s¸-Sp-hn-¨-Xv. kt´mjv Ipamdpw aäv aq¶v t]cpw tNÀ¶v ImÀ¯n¡vcmPv F¶-bmsf X«n-s¡mIv t]mhp-Ibpw tamN-\-{Z-h-y-ambn ]¯v e£w cq]m Bh-i-y-s¸-Sp-Ibpw sNbvXp. XpSÀ¶v ]Ww \ÂIm-¯-Xn-\m ImÀ¯nIv cmPns\ sIm¶p F¶m-bn-cp¶p t{]mkn-I-yq-j³ tIkv. \mep-t]À tNÀ¶v DIm-¡nb {]tX-yI am\-kn-Im-hØbmWv Cu sIme¡v ]n¶n-se¶pw {]Xn-IÄ a\-]-cn-hÀ¯\w kw`hn¨v Pohn-¡p-¶-Xn-\p-ff kml-N-c-y-¯n-s\-Xn-cmbn t{]mkn-I-yq-j\v H¶pw sImIp hcm³ km[n-¨nÃm F¶Xpw ]cn-K-Wn¨v h[-in£ hn[n-¡p-¶-Xn \n¶v tImSXn ]n³am-dp-Ibm-bn-cp-¶p. 

IqSmsX kp{]-[m-\-amb _¨³kn§v tIkn ]mh-s¸-«-hcpw ]W-¡m-c\pw X½n-ep-ff A´cw h[-in-£-bpsS Imc-y-¯n shfn-s¸-Sp-¶p-sI¶ kqN\ \ÂIp-¶p-Iv. “]mh-§fpw Ah-K-Wn-¡-s¸-«-hcpw h-[-in-£mÀl-cm-Ip-t¼mÄ ]Whpw kzm-[o-\-hp-ap-f-f-hÀ ]e-t¸mgpw c£-s]-Sp¶ AhØ h[-in-£-bpsS Imc-y-¯n-epIv (AIR 1982 SC 1325:Bachon Singh, Shu Singh & Anr. v. State of Punjab.) F¶ No^v PÌokv `K-h-Xn-bpsS hntbm-P\ hn[n-\-ym-b-¯n-ep-ff ]cm-aÀiw kt´mjv _mcn-bÀ tIkn ]cn-K-Wn-¡-s¸-«p. CXnsâ ASn-Øm-\-¯n ‘A]qÀÆ-§-fn A]qÀÆw tIkp-IÄ¡p am{Xw h[-in£’F¶ kn²m-´-t¯m-sSm¸w Poh-]-c-y´w XShp in£-bpsS km[-yX bpà-am-hnà F¶ L«-¯n am{Xw h[-in£ F¶p-IqSn Iq«n-t¨À¯p. Ipä-hm-fn-bpsS a\:]cn-hÀ¯\w Akm[-y-am-sW¶v sXfn-bn-¡pI F¶Xv Akm-[-y-am-I-bm bYmÀ°-¯n kt´mjv _mcn-bÀ tItkmSp IqSn h[-in£ C´-y-bn Ah-km-\n-t¡-In-bn-cp-¶-XmWv. 1977-þ PÌokv hn.-BÀ. IrjvW-¿À Knbm-kp-±o³-þ-B-{Ô-kÀ¡mÀ (AIR 1977 SC 1926:Giasudheen v. State of Andhra Pradesh.) tIkn a\:]cn-hÀ¯\ kml-N-c-y-§-fmWv, `oIc in£m-hn-[n-bpsS kml-N-c-y-§-fm-h-cpXv {Inan-\ tImS-Xn-I-fn-ep-Im-th-IXv F¶v A`n-{]m-b-s¸-«n-cp-¶-Xn\v AÀl-amb ]cn-K-W\ In«p-¶Xv kt´mjv _mcn-bÀ tIkn-em-Wv. 

A^vk Kpcp-hn\v hn[n¨ h[-in-£-bn-eq-sSbpw apwss_ tIknse {]Xn APva Ik-_ns\ h[-in-£¡v hn[n-¨-t¸mgpw `mcX \nb-a-cwKw ]cn-jvI-cn¨p sImIph¶ “A]qÀÆ-§-fn AX-y-]qÀÆ’hpw ‘]cn-hÀ¯\ km[-y-X-bn-Ãm¯’Xpamb kml-N-c-y-§Ä ]cn-KWn¡p¶Xv \ne¨p t]mbn-cn-¡p-I-bm-Wv. h[-in£ A\-k-yqXw C´-y-bn \ne-\n¡p-Ibpw XpS-cp-Ibpw sN¿p-sa¶v Ch-cpsS hn[nIÄ hy-à-am-¡p-¶p. C´-y-bpsS ]c-tam-¶X \oXn]oTw A^vk Kpcp-hns\ h[-in-£¡p hn[n-¨-t¸mÄ ]d-ªXv h[-in-£ hn[n-¡p-hm³ am{Xw t\cn-«p-ff sXfn-hp-I-fn-sÃ-¦n IqSn kml-N-cy sXfn-hp-I-fpsS ASn-Øm-\-¯n P\-a-\-km-£n¡p thInbpw Ahsc Xr]vXn-s¸-Sp-¯p-¶-Xn\pw A^vk Kpcp-hn\v h[-in-£¡v hn[n-¡p¶p (AIR 2005 SC 3820: State (N.C.T. of Delhi) v.Nagjoth Sandhu @ Afsan Guru.) F¶m-bn-cp¶p. IqSw-Ipfw t]mse-bp-ff hnj-b-§-fnepw P\-hn-Imcw ]cn-K-Wn-¨n-«m-bn-cp¶p Cu {]J-ym-]-\-sa-¦n AwKo-I-cn-¡m-am-bn-cp-¶p. 

cmjv{S-]Xn {]W_v IpamÀ apJÀPn ]Xn-\mdp t]cpsS Zbm-lÀPn CXn-t\m-SIw Xf-fn-¡-f-ªp. Hcp kv{Xo DÄs¸-sS-bp-ff ZoÀL-Im-e-ambn Pbn in£-b-\p-`-hn-¡p¶ Nnecpw C¡q-«-¯n s]Spw. Hcp kv{Xosb C´-y-bn BZ-y-am-bn-«mWv h[-in-£¡v hnt[-b-bm-¡p-hm³ t]mIp-¶-Xv. CsXmcp ]t£ A´m-cmjv{S Xe-¯n {i²n-¡-s¸-«m `mcX-¯n\v Hcp Xocm If-¦-am-bn-cn-¡pw. 

2013-þse {Inan-\ \nba t`Z-K-Xn-bn _em-ÕwKw sN¿-s¸-Sp¶ kv{Xo Kpcp-Xc ]cn-¡p-IÄ G¡p-Itbm, sImÃ-s¸-Sp-Itbm sN¿p¶ ]£w h[-in£ hn[n-¡m-hp-¶-XmWv F¶v ]pXn-sbmcp hIp-¸n-eqsS tNÀ¯n-«pIv. tImS-Xn-IÄ am{X-aÃ, `c-W-Iq-Shpw Ct¸mgpw HutZ-ym-KnI sIme-]m-X-I-§sf \ym-bo-I-cn-¡p-Ibpw t{]cn-¸n-¡p-Ibpw sN¿p-¶p-Iv F¶v Cu t`Z-KXn hy-à-am-¡p-¶p. cmjv{S-]Xn, PqUn-j-ydn, `c-W-IqSw F¶n-hÀ tNÀ¶p-ff h[-in-£-IÄ¡v A\p-Iq-e-ambn Xs¶ P\-hn-Im-chpw \ne-\nÀ¯-s¸-Sp-¶p. `c-W-IqSw sN¿p-¶-Xv X§Ä¡pw BIm-sa¶ {]Xn-tem-a-Nn´ kaq-l-¯n C¯cw \S-]-Sn-IÄ hfÀ¯p-I-bn-à F¶v Bcp IIp? t\cn«v ]nSn-¡-s¸-Sp¶ ]e tamjvSm-¡fpw C¯cw ‘P\-Iobac-W-’§Ä¡v hnt[-b-am-hp¶ hmÀ¯-IÄ \Sp-¡-t¯msS am{Xta hmbn-¡p-hm³ km[n-¡q. 

PÌokv hn.-BÀ.-Ir-jvW-¿-cpsS [otcm-Zm-¯-amb Nne sNdp¯p \n¸p-IÄ DIm-bn-cp-¶n-sÃ-¦n AXn {]mIr-X-amb h[-in£ C´-y-bn XS-hp-in-£-tb-¡mÄ am\-y-amb in£-bmbn ]cn-K-Wn-¡p-s¸-Sm-am-bn-cp-¶p. Hcmsf sIme-s¸-Sp-¯p-¶-Xn-eqsS Abm-fpsS in£ Ah-km-\n-¡p-I-bm-Wv. Pohn-X-Imew apgp-h³ XS-hn-en-Sp-I-bmWv AXnepw henb in£ F¶v \½psS \mSpw `c-W-Iq-Shpw PqUn-j-y-dnbpw a\-Ên-emt¡Inbn-cn-¡p-¶p. 

1.PÌokvv hn.-BÀ .IrjvW-¿À; h[-in-£¡p h[-in£ (Death Sentence on Death Sentence)..