Bachan Singh v State of Punjab
Supreme Court of IndiaAIR 1980 SC 898Bench: Sarkaria J, Chandrachud CJ, Gupta J, Untwalia J (majority 4:1); Bhagwati J (dissent)
Death penalty is constitutionally valid. It should be imposed only in the "rarest of rare" cases where the alternative of life imprisonment is unquestionably foreclosed. The Court laid down aggravating and mitigating circumstances to guide sentencing. Death sentence is not per se violative of Articles 14, 19, or 21.