Global use of the death penalty is shrinking, with most executions concentrated in a few countries like China, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Many nations have abolished it, and the UN supports a global moratorium. Supporters cite justice and deterrence, while opponents highlight wrongful convictions, discrimination, and human rights concerns. India retains capital punishment for the “rarest of the rare” cases but has not executed anyone since 2020. Courts are cautious, and legislative debates continue. Experts recommend clearer laws, judicial training, and exploring life imprisonment as a humane alternative while considering a formal moratorium.
The Supreme Court in Vaibhav v. State of Maharashtra acquitted a student accused of murdering his friend, ruling that the prosecution failed to prove a complete chain of circumstantial evidence. The case involved the alleged accidental firing of Vaibhav’s father’s revolver, which killed his friend Mangesh. While Vaibhav’s act of hiding the body suggested tampering, the Court held it was not enough to prove murder. Forensic findings supported accidental firing, and no motive was shown. The Court set aside his murder conviction but upheld punishment for destroying evidence, limiting it to time already served.
