Annual Statistic Reports 2017
The report compiles data on the use of the death penalty in India in 2017. It seeks to improve data collection systems and expand sources to better track death penalty cases. It also aims to make this information accessible and strengthen understanding of how capital punishment is administered.
Process
The report uses a multi-source and improved data collection approach, including filing around 200 RTI applications across prison departments, home departments, High Courts, and Governors’ offices. It also tracks cases through High Court and Supreme Court websites, verifies information via State Legal Services Authorities, and relies heavily on newspaper reports for trial court data due to lack of reliable court records. Despite improvements, there were significant challenges at data collection level, due to incomplete or incorrect RTI responses, bureaucratic delays, poorly maintained official data, and lack of coordination between state institutions, requiring continuous cross-verification from multiple sources.
