Law Commission of India's Clarification on News Item "End Death Penalty, Keep it for Terror Only: Law Commission"

PRESS COMMUNIQUÉ

A newspaper report appeared in the Delhi Edition of Indian Express dated 28 August 2015 captioned “End death penalty, keep it for terror only: Law Commission”. The Law Commission of India clarifies that this is a case of incorrect reporting arid does not reflect the final recommendations of the Commission. The “draft report” that has been reported upon is not the final version that is proposed to be submitted to the Union Minister of Law and Justice. The Commission further clarifies that a subject like death penalty is extremely sensitive in nature, and reporting on such a subject without clearly understanding the views of the Commission may have an adverse impact on the public. Attributing the final viewsof the Commission to a “draft report”, that was intended for private circulation amongst Members and meant for discussion, has opened up the issue for unnecessary speculation. The Commission regards the news report  as  an interference in  its functioning.