AN AWARENESS ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AMONG YOUNG ADULTS IN INDIA

AUTHOR: SB PRABHU KUMARAN, STUDENT AT SAVEETHA SCHOOL OF LAW, SAVEETHA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL AND TECHNICAL SCIENCES (SIMATS), CHENNAI

BEST CITATION – SB PRABHU KUMARAN, AN AWARENESS ON CAPITAL PUNISHMENT AMONG YOUNG ADULTS IN INDIA, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 5 (7) OF 2025, PG. 933-947, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.

ABSTRACT

The study aims to explore how young adults perceive the fairness of the death penalty, its deterrent effect, and its moral standing in contemporary society. The study highlights the concept of “rarest of rare” cases, which serves as a guideline for applying capital punishment in India. Additionally, the paper contrasts abolitionist and retentionist countries, providing a historical overview of capital punishment in ancient India. One major factor contributing to this issue is the perceived inadequacy of punishments for serious crimes, with many arguing that more severe penalties are necessary to deter criminal activity. Among the different types of punishments in India, capital punishment stands out as the most severe. The study seeks to determine whether young adults perceive capital punishment as an effective deterrent to crime or if they view it as morally problematic and outdated. The research adopts an empirical methodology, utilizing a structured questionnaire distributed to 200 participants from the Chennai region, selected using a convenience sampling method. The findings highlight a generational shift, with many young adults questioning the fairness and efficacy of the death penalty, expressing concerns about wrongful convictions, and emphasizing the potential for rehabilitation over punitive measures.

KEYWORDS: capital punishment, death penalty, legislation, capital offense, crimes.