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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.
1–20 · Page 1 of 7
Supreme Court of India16 Jul 2025Full text
2025 INSC 861 · [2025] 8 S.C.R. 243
clear that the test has to be more than what a particular Judge locates as rarest of rare in his personal consideration. There has to be an objective value to the term “rarest of rare”, otherwise it will … fall foul of Article 14. In such a scenario, a robust approach to arrive at the rarest
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.
1–20 · Page 1 of 7
Supreme Court of India16 Jul 2025Full text
2025 INSC 861 · [2025] 8 S.C.R. 243
clear that the test has to be more than what a particular Judge locates as rarest of rare in his personal consideration. There has to be an objective value to the term “rarest of rare”, otherwise it will … fall foul of Article 14. In such a scenario, a robust approach to arrive at the rarest
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India21 Mar 2023Full text
2023 INSC 264 · [2023] 5 S.C.R. 1016
S.C.R. A 77. The law laid down in Bachan Singh requires meeting the standard of ‘rarest of rare’ for award of the death penalty which requires the Courts to conclude that the convict is not fit for any … State of Maharashtra29, this requires looking beyond the crime at the criminal as well: B 66. The rarest of rare dictum, as discussed above, hints at this difference between death punishment and the alternative punishment of life imprisonment
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India5 Jun 2025Full text
2025 INSC 806 · [2025] 7 S.C.R. 364
Maharashtra20, has held that the power of quashing should be exercised sparingly with circumspection in the ‘rarest of rare cases’ and not as an ordinary rule : “13.4. The power of quashing should be exercised sparingly with circumspection … the “rarest of rare cases”. (The rarest of rare cases standard in its application for quashing under Section 482CrPC is not to be confused with the norm which has been formulated in the context of the death penalty
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India28 Apr 2023Full text
2023 INSC 445 · [2023] 4 S.C.R. 96
the considered opinion that still the case does not fall within the four corners of the “rarest of rare” cases. 26. In the said case, the accused had committed murder of his C wife and daughter. However, this … Court found that the said could not be considered to be ‘rarest of rare’ case. 27. Recently, this Court, in the case of Sundar @ Sundarrajan v State by Inspector of Police5, held that ‘rarest of rare’ doctrine does
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India3 Nov 2022Full text
2022 INSC 1156 · [2022] 7 S.C.R. 792
importantly in its traumatising effect, this case stands alone, or it is at least the very rarest of rare cases to come before this Court since the birth of the Republic. Therefore, it should also attract the rarest … penalty has been held to be constitutionally valid, though it is indeed to be awarded in the “rarest of rare cases when the alternative option (of life sentence) is unquestionably foreclosed”. Now, as long D as the death
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India9 Feb 2022Full text
2022 INSC 164 · [2022] 2 S.C.R. 13
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 H 94 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 2 S.C.R. A recorded … 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
Matched in judgment text
Rajasthan High Court17 Aug 2026Full text
2026:RJ-JP:32991 · CRLMP/1728/2016
investigation to go on; iv) The power of quashing should be exercised sparingly with circumspection, in the ‘rarest of rare cases’. (The rarest of rare cases standard in its application for quashing under Section 482 Cr..P.C
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India21 Jan 2022Full text
2022 INSC 80 · [2022] 3 S.C.R. 962
investigation to go on; iv) The power of quashing should be exercised sparingly with circumspection, in the ‘rarest of rare cases’. (The rarest of B rare cases standard in its application for quashing under Section 482 Cr.P.C
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 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 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 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 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 India17 May 2024Full text
2024 INSC 448 · [2024] 5 S.C.R. 629
that Bachan Singh [(1980) 2 SCC 684 : 1980 SCC (Cri) 580] laid down the principle of the rarest of rare cases. Machhi Singh [(1983) 3 SCC 470 : 1983 SCC (Cri) 681] , for practical application crystallised the principle into … the scope for imposing death penalty. But the unfortunate reality is that in later decisions neither the rarest of rare cases principle nor the Machhi Singh [(1983) 3 SCC 470 : 1983 SCC (Cri) 681] categories were followed uniformly
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India29 Jul 2025Full text
2025 INSC 969 · [2025] 7 S.C.R. 2012
SCC 684 (“Bachan Singh”). It was observed that in Bachan Singh, the principle of “the rarest of rare” cases was laid down and in Machhi Singh, this Court for practical application, crystallised the principle into five definite categories … for imposing death penalty. It was also observed that in reality in the later decisions neither “the rarest of rare cases” principle nor the Machhi Singh categories were followed uniformly and consistently. Holding that this Court was reluctant
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India10 Apr 2023Full text
2023 INSC 344 · [2023] 2 S.C.R. 793
Abuse/misuse of – Held: Such laws must be very critically examined and must be used only in the rarest of rare cases. Allowing the appeal, the Court D HELD: 1. Preventive detention laws in India are a colonial legacy … the state, must in all circumstances, be very critically examined, and must be used only in the rarest of rare cases. In cases of preventive detention, where the detenue is held in arrest not for a crime
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India20 Mar 2024Full text
2024 INSC 235 · [2024] 3 S.C.R. 705
prescribed – 30th September, is over, to do the complete justice, the Court under exceptional circumstances and in rarest of rare cases direct the admission in the same year by directing to increase the seats, however, it should not … However, it is observed that such relief can be granted only in exceptional circumstances and in the rarest of rare cases. In case of such an eventuality, the Court may also pass an order cancelling the admission given
Matched in judgment text
Also on Law on Tips: Bare Acts · Legal news and analysis
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India21 Mar 2023Full text
2023 INSC 264 · [2023] 5 S.C.R. 1016
S.C.R. A 77. The law laid down in Bachan Singh requires meeting the standard of ‘rarest of rare’ for award of the death penalty which requires the Courts to conclude that the convict is not fit for any … State of Maharashtra29, this requires looking beyond the crime at the criminal as well: B 66. The rarest of rare dictum, as discussed above, hints at this difference between death punishment and the alternative punishment of life imprisonment
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India5 Jun 2025Full text
2025 INSC 806 · [2025] 7 S.C.R. 364
Maharashtra20, has held that the power of quashing should be exercised sparingly with circumspection in the ‘rarest of rare cases’ and not as an ordinary rule : “13.4. The power of quashing should be exercised sparingly with circumspection … the “rarest of rare cases”. (The rarest of rare cases standard in its application for quashing under Section 482CrPC is not to be confused with the norm which has been formulated in the context of the death penalty
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India28 Apr 2023Full text
2023 INSC 445 · [2023] 4 S.C.R. 96
the considered opinion that still the case does not fall within the four corners of the “rarest of rare” cases. 26. In the said case, the accused had committed murder of his C wife and daughter. However, this … Court found that the said could not be considered to be ‘rarest of rare’ case. 27. Recently, this Court, in the case of Sundar @ Sundarrajan v State by Inspector of Police5, held that ‘rarest of rare’ doctrine does
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India3 Nov 2022Full text
2022 INSC 1156 · [2022] 7 S.C.R. 792
importantly in its traumatising effect, this case stands alone, or it is at least the very rarest of rare cases to come before this Court since the birth of the Republic. Therefore, it should also attract the rarest … penalty has been held to be constitutionally valid, though it is indeed to be awarded in the “rarest of rare cases when the alternative option (of life sentence) is unquestionably foreclosed”. Now, as long D as the death
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India9 Feb 2022Full text
2022 INSC 164 · [2022] 2 S.C.R. 13
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 H 94 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2022] 2 S.C.R. A recorded … 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
Matched in judgment text
Rajasthan High Court17 Aug 2026Full text
2026:RJ-JP:32991 · CRLMP/1728/2016
investigation to go on; iv) The power of quashing should be exercised sparingly with circumspection, in the ‘rarest of rare cases’. (The rarest of rare cases standard in its application for quashing under Section 482 Cr..P.C
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India21 Jan 2022Full text
2022 INSC 80 · [2022] 3 S.C.R. 962
investigation to go on; iv) The power of quashing should be exercised sparingly with circumspection, in the ‘rarest of rare cases’. (The rarest of B rare cases standard in its application for quashing under Section 482 Cr.P.C
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 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 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 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 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 India17 May 2024Full text
2024 INSC 448 · [2024] 5 S.C.R. 629
that Bachan Singh [(1980) 2 SCC 684 : 1980 SCC (Cri) 580] laid down the principle of the rarest of rare cases. Machhi Singh [(1983) 3 SCC 470 : 1983 SCC (Cri) 681] , for practical application crystallised the principle into … the scope for imposing death penalty. But the unfortunate reality is that in later decisions neither the rarest of rare cases principle nor the Machhi Singh [(1983) 3 SCC 470 : 1983 SCC (Cri) 681] categories were followed uniformly
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India29 Jul 2025Full text
2025 INSC 969 · [2025] 7 S.C.R. 2012
SCC 684 (“Bachan Singh”). It was observed that in Bachan Singh, the principle of “the rarest of rare” cases was laid down and in Machhi Singh, this Court for practical application, crystallised the principle into five definite categories … for imposing death penalty. It was also observed that in reality in the later decisions neither “the rarest of rare cases” principle nor the Machhi Singh categories were followed uniformly and consistently. Holding that this Court was reluctant
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India10 Apr 2023Full text
2023 INSC 344 · [2023] 2 S.C.R. 793
Abuse/misuse of – Held: Such laws must be very critically examined and must be used only in the rarest of rare cases. Allowing the appeal, the Court D HELD: 1. Preventive detention laws in India are a colonial legacy … the state, must in all circumstances, be very critically examined, and must be used only in the rarest of rare cases. In cases of preventive detention, where the detenue is held in arrest not for a crime
Matched in judgment text
Supreme Court of India20 Mar 2024Full text
2024 INSC 235 · [2024] 3 S.C.R. 705
prescribed – 30th September, is over, to do the complete justice, the Court under exceptional circumstances and in rarest of rare cases direct the admission in the same year by directing to increase the seats, however, it should not … However, it is observed that such relief can be granted only in exceptional circumstances and in the rarest of rare cases. In case of such an eventuality, the Court may also pass an order cancelling the admission given
Matched in judgment text
Also on Law on Tips: Bare Acts · Legal news and analysis