Devender Pal Singh vs State, N.C.T. Of Delhi And Anr

The Supreme Court, while reviewing Criminal Appeal No.761/2001, held that the imposition of a death sentence is inappropriate when one of the judges has recorded an acquittal. The Court emphasized that a death sentence should not be imposed in cases where there is a dissenting opinion regarding the conviction, referencing the minority view in Bachan Singh vs. State of Punjab (1982). The Court concluded that the review applications were valid under Article 137 of the Constitution, and the matter should be referred to a larger bench for further consideration of the sentencing principles in light of differing judicial opinions.