RAJENDRA PRAHLADRAO WASNIK vs THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

The Supreme Court addressed the complexities surrounding the imposition of the death penalty, particularly in cases involving heinous crimes such as rape and murder, as per Sections 376(2)(f), 377, and 302 IPC. The Court reaffirmed the principles established in Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab, emphasizing the need for a humanitarian approach that considers the possibility of reform and rehabilitation of the convict. The Court ultimately upheld the death sentence for the appellant, convicted of the rape and murder of a 3-year-old girl, citing the gravity of the crime and the absence of mitigating circumstances.