The Project 39A of the National Law University (NLU) recently released a report titled “Death Penalty in India: Annual Statistics Report, 2022.” The report provides insight into the use of the death penalty in India and the trends in death sentences imposed over the past year.
Increase in Death Sentences Imposed
The report revealed that in 2022, trial courts imposed 165 death sentences, marking the highest number of death sentences imposed in the last 20 years. This increase in death sentences is concerning, particularly in light of the fact that a significant number of death row prisoners have been on death row for many years without their appeals being heard or resolved.
High Number of Prisoners on Death Row
At the end of 2022, there were 539 prisoners on death row in India, the highest number since 2016. This high number of prisoners on death row indicates a low rate of disposition by appellate courts, meaning that the appeals of death row prisoners are not being heard or resolved in a timely manner. This can lead to prisoners spending many years on death row without receiving a final resolution of their appeals.
Cases Associated with Sexual Offences
The report also revealed that more than 50 percent of the cases on death row are associated with sexual offences. This highlights the need for a more effective and efficient system for dealing with sexual offence cases and ensuring that victims of sexual violence receive justice in a timely manner.
