Report No. 187

Comparative study of present methods of executing the death sentence:

Hanging: Hanging by neck is practiced as prevalent of executing death sentence in some countries. If the length of the drop is correct, the results in breaking of the spinal cord and the death is instantaneous and almost painless, otherwise the results in agonising death by strangulation. In India, there is no provision for postmortem as it was in UK, before the death penalty was abolished, to ascertain whether the convict died of breaking of the spinal cord or strangulation. Even in UK it was found that death was by strangulation occurred in majority of cases.

The procedure is prolonge.- the person to be executed is first kept in isolation and not allowed to possess any material by which he can kill himself such as shaving materials, 'nada', or even meal utensils are of earthenware.

One day before the execution, he is weighed. Before execution his hands and legs are tied and black hood is put on him (Jail manual). After the scaffold is removed the body is kept suspended for half an hour. Often his eyes and tongue gorge 91out and he urinates and defecates. The process of execution takes about forty minutes. There is also dearth of expert hang-man in India and Jail Manual provides for Jailor, who has no scientific knowledge, to guide the hang-man. Hanging has been given up in United States of America (USA) as it is inhumane and degrading.