India
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Retentionist
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · The Indian legislative system also provides for different...
- News items in the archive
- 1,863
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
India is classified as Retentionist in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 1,863 news items on India, from 1999 to today.
In India the death penalty applies to murder, terrorism and certain serious sexual offences, and the method is hanging. Case law restricts it to the cases it calls the rarest of the rare: many sentences are handed down, few executions are actually carried out, and a significant share of sentences is overturned or commuted on appeal.
The archive follows sentences, commutations, executions and legislative debates.
Latest news
- AUGUST 26, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
a man was sentenced to death by an Indian local court
a man was sentenced to death by an Indian local court
- AUGUST 24, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
a court in Bijawar town, India, has awarded death sentence to two persons
a court in Bijawar town, India, has awarded death sentence to two persons
- AUGUST 21, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
the Indian Supreme Court has stayed the execution of two
the Indian Supreme Court has stayed the execution of two
- AUGUST 16, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
President Pranab Mukherjee has rejected the mercy petition
President Pranab Mukherjee has rejected the mercy petition
AUGUST 13, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: PRESIDENT REJECTS LAST PENDING MERCY PLEA, DUO TO HANG
President Pranab Mukherjee rejected the mercy petitions of Shivu and Jadeswamy, who
- AUGUST 8, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
the division bench of Chhattisgarh high court
the division bench of Chhattisgarh high court
AUGUST 8, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: SC GRANTS FORMAL STAY ON EXECUTION OF MAGANLAL BARELA
In India, the Supreme court formally granted stay on the execution of Maganlal Barela in Jabalpur central
- AUGUST 6, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
a Bhiwani court, in India, awarded capital punishment to four persons
a Bhiwani court, in India, awarded capital punishment to four persons
AUGUST 6, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: GUJARAT HC COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE IN RAPE AND MURDER CASE
The Gujarat High Court commuted the death sentence awarded to two convicts in the 2007 Chandni
JULY 31, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: KILLER-RAPIST GETS DEATH SENTENCE IN KERALA
In India, Manjeri district sessions court sentenced Palapparamban Abdul Nasar, 45, to death
JULY 29, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTYUAE: DUBAI JANITOR RAPIST GETS DEATH PENALTY
A UAE court sentenced to death a 57-year-old Indian man convicted of raping a seven
- JULY 22, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
in a speedy trial, a 26-year-old man was sentenced to death
in a speedy trial, a 26-year-old man was sentenced to death
- JULY 17, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
an Indian local court in Jharkhand's Hazaribag sentenced two Maoists
an Indian local court in Jharkhand's Hazaribag sentenced two Maoists
JULY 16, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: MADHYA PRADESH HIGH COURT UPHOLDS DEATH SENTENCE FOR RAPE CONVICT
In India, indore bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court upheld a special court's verdict
- JULY 9, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
a Bihar court, in India, awarded the death penalty to two persons
a Bihar court, in India, awarded the death penalty to two persons
JULY 9, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR RAPING, KILLING MINOR
A man was sentenced to death by a local court in Mainpuri, India, for raping a 9-year-old
- JULY 8, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: HC COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE OF THREE TO LIFE
In India, the Allahabad High Court commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment, awarded
- JUNE 28, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
The Anantpur court sentenced a farmer to death for murdering two of his neighbours
The Anantpur court sentenced a farmer to death for murdering two of his neighbours
- JUNE 27, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
MP high court has upheld the death sentence of Nandkishore
MP high court has upheld the death sentence of Nandkishore
- JUNE 8, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
a Faridabad court, in India, has awarded death sentence
a Faridabad court, in India, has awarded death sentence
- JUNE 7, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: COURT AWARDS DEATH FOR RAPE, MURDER OF 5-YR-OLD
In a speedy trial, a 53-year-old man was sentenced to death by a court in India for rape
- MAY 28, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
UAE: MAN TO DIE FOR MURDERING HOUSEWIFE IN BUR DUBAI
An accountant, who slit the throat of a compatriot housewife in her flat after persuading her to let him in by asking for a glass of water, has been sentenced to death in the UAE
- MAY 27, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
the additional district and sessions judge, in India...
the additional district and sessions judge, in India...
- MAY 17, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
a Sessions Court, in India, awarded capital punishment...
a Sessions Court, in India, awarded capital punishment...
- MAY 16, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
a 22-year-old man was sentenced to death by a local court
a 22-year-old man was sentenced to death by a local court
- MAY 7, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
the Bombay High Court commuted the death penalty...
the Bombay High Court commuted the death penalty...
MAY 4, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: MAN GETS DEATH PENALTY FOR KILLING THREE SIBLINGS
A man has been sentenced to death by a local court in Bilaspur, India, for abducting and killing
MAY 1, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA: SC COMMUTES DEATH SENTENCE OF M N DAS, A CONDEMNED PRISONER FROM ASSAM
The Supreme Court of India commuted to life imprisonment the death sentence awarded
- APRIL 30, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
the Supreme Court commuted the death sentence of murder convict Mahendra Nath Das to life sentence on
the Supreme Court commuted the death sentence of murder convict Mahendra Nath Das to life sentence on
- APRIL 29, 2013IndiaDEATH PENALTY
the Supreme Court has commuted the death penalty awarded...
the Supreme Court has commuted the death penalty awarded...