New Delhi, April 28 (PTI): The debate over whether a condemned prisoner be executed by hanging or by a lethal injection was thrown open to the public today with the Law Commission releasing a consultation paper on the subject.

Commission member N.M. Ghatate said the paper has been issued as the prevalent mode of execution by hanging has been criticised and many are of the opinion that it should be replaced by more painless methods.

The commission has sought response on Section 354(5) of the Criminal Procedure Code, which deals with execution of death sentence by hanging. The paper has also sought opinion on whether a prisoner should be given the choice of dying from a lethal injection or being shot dead.

Ghatate said the paper raises controversial questions on which the commission proposed to elicit public response.

The consultation paper along with the questionnaire is available on the panel’s website www.lawcommissionofindia.nic.in