India
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- federal parliamentary republic
- CONSTITUTION
- January 26, 1950; amended several times
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on English common law; partial review of legislative acts by the judiciary
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral, Council of States (Rajya Sabha) and People's Assembly (Lok Sabha)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Supreme Court, judges appointed by the President and serve until 65 years of age
RELIGIONS
80% Hindu; 11% Muslims; 2% Christians; 2% Sikhs; Buddhist minorities and others
From the country
- FEBRUARY 20, 2006IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA. HIGH COURT AWARDS CAPITAL PUNISHMENT FOR RAPE
the Guwahati High court, India, confirmed the death sentence, awarded to Mithu Kalita, for murdering and raping a minor girl in Morigaon.
- FEBRUARY 17, 2006IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA. SUPREME COURT STAYS DEATH SENTENCE OF SWAMI SHRADHANANDA
India’s Supreme Court stayed the death sentence of Swami Shradhananda, convicted of murdering his wife Begum Shakereh Namazi, a member of the royal family of Mysore.
- FEBRUARY 6, 2006IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA. KERALA HIGH COURT COMMUTES SENTENCE OF DEATH INTO LIFE
the Kerala High Court, India, commuted into life the death sentence of Vadasseril Raju handed down by the Thalassery Sessions Court for rape and murder.
- FEBRUARY 6, 2006IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA. SUPREME COURT REJECTS CURATIVE PETITION
a “curative petition” filed by S. S. Lakra, on death row for killing a retired brigadier and two members of his family, was dismissed by the Indian Supreme Court.
- FEBRUARY 3, 2006IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA. DEATH SENTENCE CONFIRMED FOR RAPE AND MURDER
the Karnataka High Court, India, confirmed the death sentence handed down by the Sessions Court of Bagalkot district to Bandhu
- JANUARY 31, 2006IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA. MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER OF FIVE
the district and sessions judge of Sahebganj, India, sentenced Matku Marandi to death after finding him guilty of killing five people on January 11, 2003 in Hatmari village, Barhet.
- JANUARY 30, 2006IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA. TWO PEOPLE SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR RAPE AND MURDER OF GIRL
an Additional Sessions court in Chatra, India, sentenced Charku Bhuiyan and Dhaneswar Bhuiyan to death
- JANUARY 25, 2006IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA. ORISSA HIGH COURT ORDERS RETRIAL IN DEATH PENALTY CASE
the Orissa High Court, India, quashed the death sentence awarded to Khageswar Behera
- JANUARY 25, 2006IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA. ORISSA HIGH COURT COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE IN PURI MURDER CASE
the Orissa High Court, India, commuted into life imprisonment the death sentence handed down to Kiran Bedi
- JANUARY 19, 2006IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA. TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER
Allahyar Mohammed Ali and Akmal were sentenced to death for murder during a house robbery by the 1st Additional Sessions Court in Hyderabad, India.
- JANUARY 18, 2006IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA. DEATH PENALTY ONLY IN RAREST OF RARE CASES, SUPREME COURT
the death penalty should be awarded in only the rarest of rare cases, India’s Supreme Court said, while asking the judiciary to consider aggravating and mitigating circumstances in awarding the extreme sentence.
- JANUARY 17, 2006IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA. PUNJAB RIGHTS FORUM CALLS FOR MORATORIUM ON DEATH PENALTY
the Punjab Rights Forum (PRF) appealed to President Abdul Kalam to implement a moratorium on the death penalty in India.