Pronouncing a death sentence or capital punishment is not a rule of law, but a mere exception. It is awarded in the rarest of the rarest cases and in cases of heinous crimes. Judges break the nib of their pen after passing a Death Sentence because the pen which signed the person’s life away will never be used to do that ever again. The pen has tasted the blood, thus, it needs to be broken so that it does not take another person’s life.
This practice is being followed out by the Indian judges since british rule. Once written or signed, the judges have no power to review or revoke the judgment. Hence the nib is broken so that the judge may not think of reviewing his own judgment and would not feel the guilt of taking someone’s life.
