RAJENDRA PRASAD ETC. ETC. vs STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH

The Supreme Court addressed the application of capital punishment under Section 302 IPC, emphasizing that the discretion of judges must be guided by well-recognized principles. The Court noted a legislative shift towards life imprisonment as the norm, with the death penalty being an exception requiring specific justification. It highlighted that the criteria for imposing the death penalty must reflect contemporary values and the gravity of the crime, asserting that the death penalty should only be applied in the most exceptional cases. The judgment underscores the need for judicial clarity in sentencing, particularly in light of evolving societal norms and human rights considerations.