• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Sobering reason why judges break their pens after sentencing someone to death

Home> News> Crime

Published 17:02 13 Apr 2024 GMT+1

Sobering reason why judges break their pens after sentencing someone to death

Indian judges took up the tradition hundreds of years ago

Joshua Nair

Joshua Nair

There's an important reason why some judges break the nib of their pens when sentencing someone to death.

Adopted by numerous judges across the world, the practice of breaking pens after giving out a death sentence is more symbolic than anything else, as it isn't a legally enforced requirement in any country.

It's purely up to the individual, by breaking the pen has become a tradition in certain countries, for example, India has been carrying this tradition out ever since the early 16th century.

Back then, it was the breaking of the quill, but as time has gone on, it has become the breaking of the nib on the pen.

Advert

It's done to symbolise the weight and seriousness of the decision that they have just made, but there are certain things that it highlights.

Judges break their pens to symbolise the seriousness of a death penalty, among other things. (Getty Stock Photo)
Judges break their pens to symbolise the seriousness of a death penalty, among other things. (Getty Stock Photo)

Firstly, the act of breaking the pen highlights finality or solemnity - essentially the irreversible nature of imposing a death sentence on someone that no money can get you out of.

It serves up a moment of reflection for those involved, and really lets the impact sink in for all parties, including friends and loved ones, shortly after passing the sentence.

It is also widely believed that breaking the nib of a pen actually emphasises the fact that a pen being used to sign a death sentence should not be used for anything else, again showing just how serious it is.

Advert

Indian lawyer Subhash Ahlawat explained: "The tradition of breaking the nib after passing a death sentence can be traced back to the Mughal era in India.

"It was during this period that the Mughal Emperor would break the quill used to sign off on death sentences."

He said that this tradition was eventually adopted by British judges in colonial India, later continuing after India gained independence.

There are a number of symbolic reasons behind breaking the nib of a pen. (Getty Stock Photo)
There are a number of symbolic reasons behind breaking the nib of a pen. (Getty Stock Photo)

Ahlawat also stated that it represents the 'judge's heavy heart' as they have no choice but to give such a serious sentence, as they have the emotional burden of deciding someone's fate.

Advert

Of course, several western countries have banned the death penalty in recent years, including the UK.

Poorvi Sirothia, another Indian lawyer, wrote about the topic in a piece for indianlegalsolution.com, saying: "After the authority passes capital punishment, he has no authority to audit or renounce his request.

"So once the sentence has been granted and the adjudicator's mark inked, the nib is additionally broken, emblematic of the way that the appointed authority can't drop or revamp the judgement in the event that he/she has a difference in heart of psyche."

Basically, it's the most extreme version of no take backs.

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Photos

Topics: Crime, History, News

Joshua Nair
Joshua Nair

Joshua Nair is a journalist at LADbible. Born in Malaysia and raised in Dubai, he has always been interested in writing about a range of subjects, from sports to trending pop culture news. After graduating from Oxford Brookes University with a BA in Media, Journalism and Publishing, he got a job freelance writing for SPORTbible while working in marketing before landing a full-time role at LADbible. Unfortunately, he's unhealthily obsessed with Manchester United, which takes its toll on his mental and physical health. Daily.

X

@joshnair10

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

3 hours ago
5 hours ago
6 hours ago
  • 3 hours ago

    Jurors reach partial verdict in Sean 'Diddy' Combs sex-trafficking trial

    The jury reached a partial verdict after more than 12 hours of deliberations, following weeks of disturbing testimony.

    News
  • 5 hours ago

    Archaeologists make 90 metre long Ancient Roman discovery buried on the ocean floor

    Divers excavated something in Italy that could reveal Roman-era secrets

    News
  • 6 hours ago

    'Worst shark attack ever' saw desperate crew feed dead to sharks as they circled in bloodbath

    If you've seen Jaws, then you'll know about this

    News
  • 6 hours ago

    'Infuriated' swingers speak out on the impact Diddy's 'freak-off' parties had on community

    Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyers caused an outcry in the swinging community

    News
  • Murder suspect Bryan Kohberger to plead guilty to killing four Idaho students in bid to avoid death penalty
  • Bizarre reason why you can theoretically get away with murder inside area called 'zone of death'
  • Reason why there's no Glastonbury Festival next year as 2025 weekend comes to an end
  • Reason why people living on Britain's most remote island haven't celebrated Christmas yet