Reviewed case brief

Bachan Singh v State of Punjab

AIR 1980 SC 898

AIR 1980 SC 898 · Supreme Court of India

death-penaltyrarest-of-raresentencingpunishment-theoryconstitutionalfoundational
Court
Supreme Court of India
Year
1980
Subjects
Jurisprudence, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
Reviewed
2026-08-02

Rule established

Death penalty is constitutional but restricted to the 'rarest of rare' cases — life imprisonment is the rule, death is the exception

Facts

    Issues

      Held

        Ratio decidendi

        How to use it in an exam

        Editorial source

        AIR 1980 SC 898

        Educational summary only. Read the reported judgment or an authorised law report before relying on the case professionally.