Rarest of Rare Doctrine:
The Kolkata R.G. Kar Medical College case and the Sharon murder case led to contrasting judgments on the death penalty, reigniting debates on the application of the ‘rarest of rare’ doctrine in India.
- The ‘rarest of rare’ doctrine governs the imposition of the death penalty in India.
- It mandates that capital punishment should only be awarded in exceptional cases where the crime shocks the collective conscience of society.
- The doctrine ensures that the death penalty remains the exception rather than the rule, upholding constitutional safeguards.
