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Indian case law by case name, citation, provision or legal issue, with the case summary, the judgment text where we hold it and the provisions it applies.
41–60 · Page 3 of 16
Supreme Court of India18 Dec 2019Full text
2019 INSC 1411 · [2019] 15 S.C.R. 342
offence was committed, Supreme Court in the judgment dated. 05.05.2017 held that the case falls within “the rarest of rare cases”– In light of the aggravating circumstances and considering that the case falls G within the category … rarest of rare cases”, the death penalty is confirmed – No error apparent on the face of the record in the appreciation of evidence or the findings of the judgment dated. 05.05.2017 calling for review – Constitution of India – Arts.137
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India8 Apr 2011Full text
Indian case law by case name, citation, provision or legal issue, with the case summary, the judgment text where we hold it and the provisions it applies.
41–60 · Page 3 of 16
Supreme Court of India18 Dec 2019Full text
2019 INSC 1411 · [2019] 15 S.C.R. 342
offence was committed, Supreme Court in the judgment dated. 05.05.2017 held that the case falls within “the rarest of rare cases”– In light of the aggravating circumstances and considering that the case falls G within the category … rarest of rare cases”, the death penalty is confirmed – No error apparent on the face of the record in the appreciation of evidence or the findings of the judgment dated. 05.05.2017 calling for review – Constitution of India – Arts.137
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India8 Apr 2011Full text
2011 INSC 285 · [2011] 5 S.C.R. 729
agency like the CBI to step in and investigate an offence only in extraordinary circumstances and in rarest of rare cases. The petitioner has0 not led factual foundation of facts to hold that the present case is one … the rarest of rare cases which requires deviation from the statutorily prescribed mode of investigation
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India16 Jul 2025Full text
2025 INSC 856 · [2025] 7 S.C.R. 1070
Non-applicability of the “rarest of rare” doctrine: Without prejudice to the above grounds, it was submitted that even as such, the instant case does not qualify as “rarest of rare” and, therefore, even if in arguendo, the
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India17 Jan 2019Full text
2019 INSC 54 · [2019] 1 S.C.R. 248
taking a life D through law’s instrumentality. That ought not to be done save in the rarest of rare cases when the alternative option is unquestionably foreclosed.” Following which, this Court in Machhi Singh v. State … Punjab2classified instances of rarest of rare cases where death sentence E can be justifiably imposed. In para 39, this Court laid down the following tests
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India14 Feb 2014Full text
2014 INSC 98 · [2014] 1 S.C.R. 1047
awarded death sentence, H 1058 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2014] 1 S.C.R. A considered the present case as rarest of rare one and stated as follows: "26. In the light of aforesaid legal position for considering whether the instant … case falls within the category of rarest in rare case, we visualize the following circumstances :-9 i) The offence was not committed under the influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance. ii) Appellant is a quite matured person
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India9 Nov 2023Full text
2023 INSC 990 · [2023] 16 S.C.R. 765
appeals. 21. Shri Grover further submitted that the present case does not fall in the category of rarest of rare cases to warrant capital punishment. He submitted that the finding recorded by the trial court and the High … Court with regard to the present case being rarest of rare cases is without basis and as such, even if the conviction is confirmed, capital punishment would not be sustainable. MADAN v. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India18 Aug 2023Full text
2023 INSC 738 · [2023] 11 S.C.R. 403
evidence applicable for proving any fact by adducing evidence in the Court of law. Except in the rarest of rare cases, judicial notice of any fact is generally not taken in criminal matters in the normal course … proceeding. The present matter falls in the category of rarest of rare cases. Certain inferences, observations and fi ndings arrived at by the Division Bench of High Court in judgment dated 13.03.2007 in the Habeas Corpus Petition, have
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India18 Jan 2019Full text
2019 INSC 58 · [2019] 1 S.C.R. 260
considered before recording a finding that the case falls in the category of ‘rarest of rare’ cases, so as to impose the death penalty. It is the specific case of the appellant that several relevant aspects which are … required to be considered before recording a finding of ‘rarest of rare’ cases have escaped the attention by the trial court as well as by the High Court. It is specifically argued that special reasons, as required
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India3 Jul 2014Full text
2014 INSC 465 · [2014] 7 S.C.R. 928
recorded for imposing the punishment of death sentence. This is how the concept of the rarest of rare cases has emerged in law. Viewed from that angle, both the B legislative provisions and judicial pronouncements are … idem in law. The death penalty should be imposed in the rarest of rare cases and that too for special reasons to be recorded. To put it simply, a death sentence is not a rule but an exception
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India18 Jan 2022Full text
2022 INSC 52 · [2022] 8 S.C.R. 1
emerges from the judgments referred to above is that death sentence cannot be imposed except in the rarest of rare cases, for which special reasons E have to be recorded, as mandated in Section 354(3) of the … Criminal Procedure Code. In deciding whether a case falls within the category of the rarest of rare, the brutality, and/or the gruesome and/or heinous nature of the crime is not the sole criterion. It is not just the
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India14 Dec 2021Full text
2021 INSC 882 · [2021] 14 S.C.R. 809
emerges from the judgments referred to above is itself death sentence cannot be imposed except in the rarest of rare cases, for which special reasons have to be C recorded, as mandated in Section 354(3) of the … Criminal Procedure Code. In deciding whether a case falls within the category of the rarest of rare, the brutality, and/or the gruesome and/or heinous nature of the crime is not the sole criterion. It is not just the
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India9 Dec 2021Full text
2021 INSC 851 · [2021] 9 S.C.R. 765
SCC 470 BHAGCHANDRA v. STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH 783 [B. R. GAVAI, J.] in the rarest of rare cases, for which special reasons have to be A recorded, as mandated in Section 354(3) of the Criminal Procedure … Code. In deciding whether a case falls within the category of the rarest of rare, the brutality, and/or the gruesome and/or heinous nature of the crime is not the sole criterion. It is not just the crime which
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India29 Feb 2012Full text
2012 INSC 119 · [2012] 2 S.C.R. 225
and the motive and status of the victim, undoubtedly brings the 8 case within the ambit of 'rarest of rare' cases and the Court finds that the imposition of life imprisonment would be inflicting of inadequate punishment, the … Court may award death penalty. Wherever, the case falls in any of the exceptions to the 'rarest of rare' cases, the Court may C exercise its judicial discretion while imposing life imprisonment in place of death sentence
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India13 Jul 2017Full text
2017 INSC 615 · [2017] 9 S.C.R. 544
SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2017] 9 S.C.R. A 482 of the Cr.P.C. should be exercised in the "rarest of rare" cases. It was said: "We also give a note of caution to the effect that the power of quashing … criminal proceeding should be exercised very sparingly and with circumspection and that too in the rarest of rare cases; B ~ that the court will not be justified in embarking upon an enquiry as to the reliability or genuineness
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India3 May 2017Full text
2017 INSC 436 · [2017] 3 S.C.R. 850
circumstances and the motive and status of the victim, undoubtedly bring the case within the ambit of"rarest of rare" cases and the court finds that the imposition of life imprisonment would be inflicting of inadequate punishment, the … court may award death penalty. Wherever, the case falls in E any of the exceptions to the "rarest of rare" cases, the court may exercise its judicial discretion while imposing life imprisonment in place of death sentence
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India3 Oct 2019Full text
2019 INSC 1115 · [2019] 13 S.C.R. 893
offence under Section 302 IPC is life imprisonment but in a case where incident is of “rarest of rare cases” death sentence is to be imposed. Only special facts and circumstances will warrant passing of death sentence and … balance has to be struck between aggravating and mitigating circumstances, before the option is exercised. In a “rarest of rare case” capital punishment F is to be imposed. To come to conclusion in each case aggravating and mitigating
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India13 May 2022Full text
2022 INSC 565 · [2022] 4 S.C.R. 225
sentence – This penalty is awardable to a culprit only the category B of the case falls under ‘rarest of rare cases’, the culprit has become a threat to the society at large and beyond reformation and his elimination … eradication of the threat – The present case cannot be considered as one falling in the category of ‘rarest of rare cases’ in which there is no alternative but to impose death sentence – While commuting capital punishment, the appellant
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India11 Feb 2015Full text
2015 INSC 104 · [2015] 1 S.C.R. 1069
the power of quashing should be exercised very sparingly and with circumspection and that too in the rarest of rare cases. Paragraphs 103 and 104 are reproduced hereunder : D "103. We als9 give a note of caution … quashing a criminal proceeding should be exercised very sparingly and with circumspection and that too in the rarest of rare cases; that the court will not be justified in embarking upon an enquiry as to the reliability
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India2 Nov 2020Full text
2020 INSC 624 · [2020] 13 S.C.R. 1
even by this Court. It is noted above that Bachan Singh8 laid down the principle of the rarest of rare cases. Machhi Singh9 for practical application crystallised the principle into five definite categories of cases of murder and … scope for imposing death penalty. But the unfortunate reality is that in later decisions neither the C rarest of rare cases principle nor the Machhi Singh9 categories were followed uniformly and consistently. 49. In Aloke Nath Dutta
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India11 Apr 2014Full text
2014 INSC 265 · [2014] 11 S.C.R. 650
barbaric c manner and, hence the instant case would not fall under the category of rarest of rare. We find some force in that contention. Taking in consideration all aspects of the matter, we are of the view … the manner in which the crime was committed, the case will not fall under the category of rarest of rare case. Consequently, we are0 incliried to commute the death sentence to. life and award 20 years of rigorous
Matched in judgment text
Also on Law on Tips: Bare Acts · Legal news and analysis
2011 INSC 285 · [2011] 5 S.C.R. 729
agency like the CBI to step in and investigate an offence only in extraordinary circumstances and in rarest of rare cases. The petitioner has0 not led factual foundation of facts to hold that the present case is one … the rarest of rare cases which requires deviation from the statutorily prescribed mode of investigation
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India16 Jul 2025Full text
2025 INSC 856 · [2025] 7 S.C.R. 1070
Non-applicability of the “rarest of rare” doctrine: Without prejudice to the above grounds, it was submitted that even as such, the instant case does not qualify as “rarest of rare” and, therefore, even if in arguendo, the
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India17 Jan 2019Full text
2019 INSC 54 · [2019] 1 S.C.R. 248
taking a life D through law’s instrumentality. That ought not to be done save in the rarest of rare cases when the alternative option is unquestionably foreclosed.” Following which, this Court in Machhi Singh v. State … Punjab2classified instances of rarest of rare cases where death sentence E can be justifiably imposed. In para 39, this Court laid down the following tests
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India14 Feb 2014Full text
2014 INSC 98 · [2014] 1 S.C.R. 1047
awarded death sentence, H 1058 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2014] 1 S.C.R. A considered the present case as rarest of rare one and stated as follows: "26. In the light of aforesaid legal position for considering whether the instant … case falls within the category of rarest in rare case, we visualize the following circumstances :-9 i) The offence was not committed under the influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance. ii) Appellant is a quite matured person
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India9 Nov 2023Full text
2023 INSC 990 · [2023] 16 S.C.R. 765
appeals. 21. Shri Grover further submitted that the present case does not fall in the category of rarest of rare cases to warrant capital punishment. He submitted that the finding recorded by the trial court and the High … Court with regard to the present case being rarest of rare cases is without basis and as such, even if the conviction is confirmed, capital punishment would not be sustainable. MADAN v. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India18 Aug 2023Full text
2023 INSC 738 · [2023] 11 S.C.R. 403
evidence applicable for proving any fact by adducing evidence in the Court of law. Except in the rarest of rare cases, judicial notice of any fact is generally not taken in criminal matters in the normal course … proceeding. The present matter falls in the category of rarest of rare cases. Certain inferences, observations and fi ndings arrived at by the Division Bench of High Court in judgment dated 13.03.2007 in the Habeas Corpus Petition, have
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India18 Jan 2019Full text
2019 INSC 58 · [2019] 1 S.C.R. 260
considered before recording a finding that the case falls in the category of ‘rarest of rare’ cases, so as to impose the death penalty. It is the specific case of the appellant that several relevant aspects which are … required to be considered before recording a finding of ‘rarest of rare’ cases have escaped the attention by the trial court as well as by the High Court. It is specifically argued that special reasons, as required
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India3 Jul 2014Full text
2014 INSC 465 · [2014] 7 S.C.R. 928
recorded for imposing the punishment of death sentence. This is how the concept of the rarest of rare cases has emerged in law. Viewed from that angle, both the B legislative provisions and judicial pronouncements are … idem in law. The death penalty should be imposed in the rarest of rare cases and that too for special reasons to be recorded. To put it simply, a death sentence is not a rule but an exception
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India18 Jan 2022Full text
2022 INSC 52 · [2022] 8 S.C.R. 1
emerges from the judgments referred to above is that death sentence cannot be imposed except in the rarest of rare cases, for which special reasons E have to be recorded, as mandated in Section 354(3) of the … Criminal Procedure Code. In deciding whether a case falls within the category of the rarest of rare, the brutality, and/or the gruesome and/or heinous nature of the crime is not the sole criterion. It is not just the
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India14 Dec 2021Full text
2021 INSC 882 · [2021] 14 S.C.R. 809
emerges from the judgments referred to above is itself death sentence cannot be imposed except in the rarest of rare cases, for which special reasons have to be C recorded, as mandated in Section 354(3) of the … Criminal Procedure Code. In deciding whether a case falls within the category of the rarest of rare, the brutality, and/or the gruesome and/or heinous nature of the crime is not the sole criterion. It is not just the
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India9 Dec 2021Full text
2021 INSC 851 · [2021] 9 S.C.R. 765
SCC 470 BHAGCHANDRA v. STATE OF MADHYA PRADESH 783 [B. R. GAVAI, J.] in the rarest of rare cases, for which special reasons have to be A recorded, as mandated in Section 354(3) of the Criminal Procedure … Code. In deciding whether a case falls within the category of the rarest of rare, the brutality, and/or the gruesome and/or heinous nature of the crime is not the sole criterion. It is not just the crime which
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India29 Feb 2012Full text
2012 INSC 119 · [2012] 2 S.C.R. 225
and the motive and status of the victim, undoubtedly brings the 8 case within the ambit of 'rarest of rare' cases and the Court finds that the imposition of life imprisonment would be inflicting of inadequate punishment, the … Court may award death penalty. Wherever, the case falls in any of the exceptions to the 'rarest of rare' cases, the Court may C exercise its judicial discretion while imposing life imprisonment in place of death sentence
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India13 Jul 2017Full text
2017 INSC 615 · [2017] 9 S.C.R. 544
SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2017] 9 S.C.R. A 482 of the Cr.P.C. should be exercised in the "rarest of rare" cases. It was said: "We also give a note of caution to the effect that the power of quashing … criminal proceeding should be exercised very sparingly and with circumspection and that too in the rarest of rare cases; B ~ that the court will not be justified in embarking upon an enquiry as to the reliability or genuineness
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India3 May 2017Full text
2017 INSC 436 · [2017] 3 S.C.R. 850
circumstances and the motive and status of the victim, undoubtedly bring the case within the ambit of"rarest of rare" cases and the court finds that the imposition of life imprisonment would be inflicting of inadequate punishment, the … court may award death penalty. Wherever, the case falls in E any of the exceptions to the "rarest of rare" cases, the court may exercise its judicial discretion while imposing life imprisonment in place of death sentence
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India3 Oct 2019Full text
2019 INSC 1115 · [2019] 13 S.C.R. 893
offence under Section 302 IPC is life imprisonment but in a case where incident is of “rarest of rare cases” death sentence is to be imposed. Only special facts and circumstances will warrant passing of death sentence and … balance has to be struck between aggravating and mitigating circumstances, before the option is exercised. In a “rarest of rare case” capital punishment F is to be imposed. To come to conclusion in each case aggravating and mitigating
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India13 May 2022Full text
2022 INSC 565 · [2022] 4 S.C.R. 225
sentence – This penalty is awardable to a culprit only the category B of the case falls under ‘rarest of rare cases’, the culprit has become a threat to the society at large and beyond reformation and his elimination … eradication of the threat – The present case cannot be considered as one falling in the category of ‘rarest of rare cases’ in which there is no alternative but to impose death sentence – While commuting capital punishment, the appellant
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India11 Feb 2015Full text
2015 INSC 104 · [2015] 1 S.C.R. 1069
the power of quashing should be exercised very sparingly and with circumspection and that too in the rarest of rare cases. Paragraphs 103 and 104 are reproduced hereunder : D "103. We als9 give a note of caution … quashing a criminal proceeding should be exercised very sparingly and with circumspection and that too in the rarest of rare cases; that the court will not be justified in embarking upon an enquiry as to the reliability
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India2 Nov 2020Full text
2020 INSC 624 · [2020] 13 S.C.R. 1
even by this Court. It is noted above that Bachan Singh8 laid down the principle of the rarest of rare cases. Machhi Singh9 for practical application crystallised the principle into five definite categories of cases of murder and … scope for imposing death penalty. But the unfortunate reality is that in later decisions neither the C rarest of rare cases principle nor the Machhi Singh9 categories were followed uniformly and consistently. 49. In Aloke Nath Dutta
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India11 Apr 2014Full text
2014 INSC 265 · [2014] 11 S.C.R. 650
barbaric c manner and, hence the instant case would not fall under the category of rarest of rare. We find some force in that contention. Taking in consideration all aspects of the matter, we are of the view … the manner in which the crime was committed, the case will not fall under the category of rarest of rare case. Consequently, we are0 incliried to commute the death sentence to. life and award 20 years of rigorous
Matched in judgment text
Also on Law on Tips: Bare Acts · Legal news and analysis