Supreme Court upholds death penalty while mandating life imprisonment as the norm
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Judiciary & landmark judgments· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the death penalty in the Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab (1980) case while mandating life imprisonment as the standard norm.
Background
The Supreme Court ruled that death sentences should only be imposed for 'special reasons' where life imprisonment is 'unquestionably foreclosed.' The ruling requires courts to weigh the circumstances of the crime against the personal circumstances of the accused.
Facts for Prelims
- BodySupreme Court of India: The highest judicial body in India.
- FactBachan Singh v. State of Punjab (1980): The landmark case upholding the death penalty.
- FactLife imprisonment: Mandated as the norm for criminal sentencing under judicial discretion.
For Mains
Q. Critically examine the judicial guidelines for imposing the death penalty in India and discuss the balance between retributive justice and the right to life.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Judicial discretion: Balancing the gravity of the crime against the individual's personal circumstances.
- Constitutional conflict: Reconciling the 'Right to Life' under Article 21 with the state's power to impose capital punishment.
Keywords: Judicial Discretion · Retributive Justice · Article 21 · Capital Punishment · Rule of Law
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.