Site navigation

Which Supreme Court of India decision laid down the 'rarest of rare' standard for imposing the death…

The Constitution Bench in Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab (1980) held that death should be imposed only in the rarest of rare cases when the alternative of life imprisonment…

Choose your answer

Which Supreme Court of India decision laid down the 'rarest of rare' standard for imposing the death penalty for murder?

Select one answer
Answer and explanation

Correct answer C

The Constitution Bench in Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab (1980) held that death should be imposed only in the rarest of rare cases when the alternative of life imprisonment is unquestionably foreclosed. It required consideration of the circumstances of the offence and of the offender.

Option feedback

Option A

Hussainara Khatoon concerned undertrial detention and access to legal services.

Option B

Sunil Batra concerned the rights of prisoners and judicial protection against custodial abuse.

Option C

Bachan Singh laid down the rarest-of-rare standard. It treats life imprisonment as the ordinary sentence for murder and reserves death for exceptional cases when the alternative is unquestionably foreclosed.

Option D

Jagmohan Singh preceded Bachan Singh and upheld the constitutionality of the death penalty under the earlier sentencing framework.

Practice for these exams

Related exam syllabi

Related questions in this topic