This Is Why Judges Break The Nib Of Their Pen After Giving A Death Sentence
By Hema
September 16 2017
A death sentence is the last action when dealing with extremely anti-social acts that have no other possible resolution and with the hope to set an example for others and that no one would think of committing any such heinous crime.
An old custom
The custom of breaking the nib after awarding a death sentence to the culprit has been followed by judges since the time of British Rule. But have you ever thought why they do it?
An Old saying goes like this- The death sentence is a sad but sometimes necessary thing and breaking the pen used to carry it out expresses that sorrow.
Not to be used Again
The practice indicates that the pen which has been used for taking away a person’s life should not be used again for some other purposes. It is also believed that the pen has tasted the blood of someone and hence need to be disposed of. Hence, breaking a nib becomes a symbolic act.
No power of rewriting
Another reason behind this act is that once the sentence has been announced, the judge is not authorized to revoke or rewrite the judgment (no second or third thoughts).
This symbolic act refers to the fact that the action of writing a death sentence cannot be changed and the same has been said and done once and for all.
Away from guilt
Breaking the nib of the pen also indicates that the judge tries to get away with the tainted pen so as to remain distant from the guilt of sentencing a death penalty to a human. Of course, announcing death to someone is a hard decision and nobody would like to bear the heavy load of the same as this rests on God and not on a human being.
A tough decision
Even if a person gets a death penalty, there are many sympathizers who ignore the brutal deeds that he or she did. They even question the decisions of the Highest Authority i.e. The Supreme Court.
Considering the age, a number of dependents, chances of rehabilitation and improvement, background, family income, depravity of the crime and threat to the society that the accused might impose, the judge announces a death penalty for the accused.
What do you think about the death penalty and this old tradition?
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