Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab
Capital punishment; “rarest of rare” doctrine; sentencing discretion.
IRAC Analysis
Whether the death sentence under Section 302 IPC violates Article 21.
The Court upheld the constitutionality of the death penalty but restricted it to the “rarest of rare” cases where the alternative of life imprisonment is unquestionably foreclosed. Judges must weigh aggravating and mitigating circumstances.