Kalam for new policy on death penalty

The President's comments were sought on a spate of reports on the issue of death penalty and mercy petitions.

Continuing the debate on pardon for death row convicts, President APJ Abdul Kalam on Wednesday said a "comprehensive" policy should be laid down after all aspects relating to the death penalty and mercy petitions were discussed in Parliament.

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"All aspects should be discussed in Parliament and a comprehensive policy be laid down," he said in response to a question from a reporter at Rashtrapati Bhavan soon after the swearing-in of Chief Information Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah appointed under the new Right to Information Act.

The President's comments were sought on a spate of reports on the issue of death penalty and mercy petitions following his communication to the Government advising it that while making recommendations on cases of mercy petitions of people in the death row, it should look into the "humanitarian" aspect.