Today, On 25th August, Supreme Court has ruled that even a death penalty confirmed by the top court can still be challenged through an Article 32 petition, as seen in the case of Vasanta Sampta Dupare where mitigating circumstances will be reconsidered.
The Bombay High Court criticized a trial court’s death sentence in a multi-murder case, finding its reasoning, which cited the Mahabharata, “strange” and unwarranted. The High Court emphasized the need for individualized assessments in trials, ultimately commuting the death penalty to life imprisonment for some convicts while acquitting one due to lack of evidence.
The Supreme Court of India has directed on 17th May, the Union Government to create a comprehensive sentencing policy to ensure fairness and uniformity in sentencing. The policy aims to avoid judge-centric decisions and disparities, emphasizing the need for transparency and adherence to fundamental rights. The court proposed the establishment of a “sentencing commission” comprising experts in various fields to develop comprehensive sentencing guidelines.
