Reviewed case brief
Machhi Singh v. State of Punjab
AIR 1983 SC 957
The decision operationalizing the Bachan Singh rarest-of-rare doctrine by identifying specific categories warranting death penalty.
- Court
- Supreme Court of India
- Year
- 1983
- Subjects
- Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
- Reviewed
- 2026-06-29
Rule established
Five categories of rarest-of-rare cases enumerated: manner of commission (extreme brutality), motive (total depravity), anti-social nature, magnitude of crime, personality of victim.
Facts
Issues
Held
Ratio decidendi
How to use it in an exam
Editorial source
AIR
Educational summary only. Read the reported judgment or an authorised law report before relying on the case professionally.