The article, “Mercy petitions: inhumane procrastination” (June 30), rightly assails the inordinate delay in taking a decision on the clemency petitions filed by convicts on death row. The case of Afzal Guru is a classic example of what politics can do to a person convicted of a heinous offence. There is every danger of the Kasab case going the same way.
The persons on death row are also human. The government should appreciate that any delay in deciding their clemency petitions will aggravate the mental agony of not only the convicts but also their family members. The suggestion that the death sentence of such prisoners be commuted deserves serious consideration.
J. Anantha Padmanabhan,Srirangam
No doubt, the delay in executing a death sentence causes mental anguish to the convict. The only justification for inflicting such pain and suffering on a condemned prisoner is that a person who has killed another does not merit any sympathy.
K. Suresh Babu,Tiruchi
The inordinate delay in disposing of a clemency petition is no doubt inhumane. But do Afzal Guru and Ajmal Kasab deserve our sympathy? Of course, the agony the families of the convicts on death row go through is a matter of concern. Let us not make their punishment more inhumane by taking too much time to take a decision on their mercy petitions.
Sudhir Thakur,Bangalore
It is true that prisoners on death row should not be subjected to a prolonged imprisonment as they suffer anguish and agony whilst awaiting execution. To execute Afzal Guru now, after holding him in custody in an agony of suspense, would be inhuman. That such a long time should have been allowed to elapse between the passing of the death sentence and its execution is deplorable. However, such anguish is an inevitable consequence and does not amount to a contravention of the constitutional rights of the prisoner. Under the law, there is no time limit for carrying out an execution. Stipulating a time limit will go against the very concept of petitioning for clemency.
T. Marx,Puducherry
Taking a decision on clemency petitions is complex and crucial as it has to do with a person's life. They cannot be dealt with hurriedly. But the time taken should be finite.
Supreet Kaur,Mohali
