LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF EXECUTION

Abstract

Capital punishment is a lesser punishment when it competes with the mental agony of a death row prisoner. The uncertainty of execution, long delay between sentencing and execution, enforced solitude, harassment and torture by the prison authorities, concern about their family and litigation expenses, lack of privacy, inadequate mental healthcare facilities, etc. take a toll on the mental health of death row prisoners. Mental health in general is still an undervalued concern in India which makes it easier for the authorities to ignore the mental issues faced by prisoners. Though there are several constitutional and statutory provisions to provide mental health care to the prisoners, it always tend to remain just on papers. This article discusses the harsh and torturous prison conditions that a prisoner has to undergo while he is on death row which may result in a psychological disorder called death row syndrome. Further, this article also deals with gross violations of the basic rights of death row prisoners and its impact on them.