STATE OF M.P. vs GAURI SHANKAR

The Supreme Court held that the High Court's reduction of the sentence under Section 376 IPC and Section 3(1)(xi) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act was illegal as it failed to provide adequate and special reasons for deviating from the minimum prescribed sentence. The Court emphasized that the High Court's judgment was cryptic and showed a lack of consideration for the evidence presented. Consequently, the Supreme Court restored the original sentence imposed by the trial court, reaffirming the necessity of adhering to statutory sentencing guidelines.