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
- 1,862
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 1,862 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
- FEBRUARY 19, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
a youth was sentenced to death by a local court in Bihar, India, for murdering his
a youth was sentenced to death by a local court in Bihar, India, for murdering his
- FEBRUARY 16, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
a court in India sentenced a man to death for the murder of his wife and three
a court in India sentenced a man to death for the murder of his wife and three
- FEBRUARY 16, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
an Indian tribunal sentenced Shahla Jahed...
an Indian tribunal sentenced Shahla Jahed...
- FEBRUARY 14, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
according to an Interior Ministry spokesperson...
according to an Interior Ministry spokesperson...
- FEBRUARY 7, 2008DenmarkDEATH PENALTY
Denmark said it would extradite Purulia arms drop accused Kim Davey only if
Denmark said it would extradite Purulia arms drop accused Kim Davey only if
FEBRUARY 6, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA. MUMBAI'S FIRST DEATH PENALTY IN A DRUG CASE
Gulamali Mallick became the first person in Mumbai, India, to
FEBRUARY 4, 2008IraqDEATH PENALTYSAUDI ARABIA. THREE FOREIGNERS BEHEADED
Saudi Arabia beheaded an Indian, an Iraqi and a Pakistani after they were
- JANUARY 28, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
the Indian Supreme Court temporarily suspended the death penalty of Yakub
the Indian Supreme Court temporarily suspended the death penalty of Yakub
JANUARY 28, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTYINDIA. ONE GETS DEATH FOR ABDUCTION, MURDER
the court of the Additional district and Sessions Judge 1 in Hajipur, India,
- JANUARY 26, 2008Saudi ArabiaDEATH PENALTY
an Indian and two Sri Lankans were sentenced to death by a court in Saudi Arabia
an Indian and two Sri Lankans were sentenced to death by a court in Saudi Arabia
- JANUARY 18, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: BUS BURNING CASE: APEX COURT STAYS DEATH SENTENCE FOR THREE
the Indian Supreme Court stayed the death sentences imposed on three accused in the Dharmapuri bus burning case.
- JANUARY 12, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: RAPE AND MURDER CONVICT GETS DEATH PENALTY
the Bombay High Court sentenced a man convicted of raping and murdering a ten year old girl to death. Harish Rajput murdered the minor by strangling her with a rope.
- JANUARY 11, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: TWO SENTENCED TO DEATH IN BIHAR
a court in Bihar, India, awarded the death sentence to two people and life terms to seven others for killing a villager in Bihar's Banka district in 1999.
- JANUARY 11, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: HC CONFIRMS DEATH SENTENCE FOR MAN WHO BEHEADED RELATIVE
the Bombay High Court in India confirmed the death sentence awarded to an accused in a case of murder in which he severed the head of the victim with a sickle.
- JANUARY 9, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: DEATH SENTENCE ACQUITTED
the Orissa High Court in India waived a death sentence ordered six months ago by the Malkangiri Additional Sessions court.
- JANUARY 8, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: BIHAR COURT SENTENCES THREE TO DEATH FOR MURDER
a fast track court in Bihar, India, sentenced three people to death and 18 others to life imprisonment for murdering three villagers 8 years ago.
- JANUARY 7, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: DEATH FOR CHILD MURDERS
a fast track court in Jalandhar, India, sentenced a “serial baby killer” to death. The man allegedly killed over 20 children, mostly migrants, after kidnapping them.
- JANUARY 4, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: DEATH FOR THREE IN LAHSUNA MASSACRE
a Fast Track court in Patna, India, sentenced three members of an outlawed organisation to death in connection with the Lahsuna massacre around four years ago.
- JANUARY 4, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: AIADMK MEN ON DEATH ROW GET MORE TIME
three AIADMK party men, sentenced to death in India for the 2002 Dharmapuri bus burning in which three women were killed, got a short reprieve after the Tamil Nadu government told the high court that capital punishment would be implemented only after the
- JANUARY 3, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: DEATH FOR RAPE, MURDER ACCUSED
a Sessions court in Ashoknagar, India, awarded capital punishment to a rape and murder accused as well as imposing a Rs 50,000 fine.
- JANUARY 1, 2008IndiaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty is provided for by the Penal Code and by Art. 21 of the Constitution which states
The death penalty is provided for by the Penal Code and by Art. 21 of the Constitution which states
- DECEMBER 31, 2007IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: DEATH PENALTY FOR TWO WOMEN FROM MAHARASHTRA
in India in 2007, the SC upheld death sentences for two women from Maharashtra...
- DECEMBER 31, 2007IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: MUMBAI COURTS TOP IN GIVING DEATH PENALTY
of the 25 death penalties handed down by trial courts in India in 2007...
- DECEMBER 27, 2007IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: MOTHER, DAUGHTER AWARDED DEATH SENTENCE FOR MURDER OF DOCTOR
at an ad hoc court in Pune, India, Additional Sessions Judge Vilas Patil sentenced a mother and daughter to death for kidnapping and murdering a doctor for a ransom of Rs 25 lakh
- DECEMBER 26, 2007IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA LAWS NOT CHANGED TO ALLOW DEATH PENALTY FOR DOWRY DEATH
the Law Commission in India concluded that Section 304-B on dowry death needs no amendment...
- DECEMBER 20, 2007IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA FOUR AWARDED DEATH IN ROHTAS
four people, charged with the kidnapping and subsequent killing of a minor boy...
- DECEMBER 20, 2007IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: DEATH SENTENCES AWARDED IN ROHTAS
sources said that a fast track court in Sasaram, Rohtas, India...
- DECEMBER 20, 2007IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: SC COMMUTES DEATH PENALTY AWARDED FOR RAPE
the Supreme Court in Madras, India, commuted the death penalty imposed on a man charged...
- DECEMBER 19, 2007IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA DEATH FOR MURDER OF AIDS COUNSELLOR
a local court in Jabalpur, India...
- DECEMBER 19, 2007IndiaDEATH PENALTY
INDIA: DEATH SENTENCE FOR KILLING SON
a CRPF deputy commandant, along with three others...