Definitely yes! Death awarded by the State for a 'rarest of the rare' or heinous crime is a blessing in disguise for the cursed soul. After all, life is an arduous journey from birth to death. Leading life in the modern society is proving to be very difficult, with trials, tribulations and much provocations. The earlier one kicks the bucket, the more blessed is the soul. One can bid goodbye to the miserly earthly life without committing more sins. If death can be had through the graceful hand of the State, it should be all the more welcome.

Every human being after committing a dastardly act like rape or murder, regrets to the core. Given another opportunity, such beings aspire to turn into a new leaf, and lead a life of purity and chastity. A human being with a conscience, should lament over his stupid act. It is better for such a being to voluntarily accept the death penalty, and try to reach the lotus feet of the merciful Lord, rather then languish in gaol for years. Making appeals to higher courts and the President of the nation, is only delaying his chance to meet the Lord early, besides prolonging the agony of both parties.

His exit from the earth will appease the sentiments of the aggrieved parties. Even they will start prayers on his behalf. Maybe his parents and dear ones will undergo mental agony for sometime, but this should adequately compensate for the anguish suffered by the affected persons. Both parties can thereafter experience peace and calm.

If hanging by the rope is barbaric, then either cyanide or electric chair maybe good alternatives. The State awarding a death penalty to a criminal, after a fair trial, is not seeking “an eye for an eye,or a tooth for a tooth'. It is the most merciful and benign act, that could be meted out to a suffering being. If all the pending death penalties for committing heinous crimes in India, had been carried out without delay, it would save tremendous amount of public money, and the mental suffering of those languishing is gaols for several years and their relatives.

Therefore the debate on whether death penalty is needed or not should end here. As already said by many, it need not be considered as a 'deterrent' to check future crimes. It is neither a 'lesson' for would be criminals. With or without death penalty, the world will witness many more rapes and killings, because more and more Frankenstein-like monsters inhabit the earth!

Published in Deccan Chronicle 03-Nov-2012