ANNUAL STATISTICS

This is the eighth edition of the Death Penalty in India: Annual Statistics Report. This annual publication presents changes in the death row population as well as political and legal developments in the administration of the death penalty in India each year. The statistics are compiled through a combination of data mining of court websites, media monitoring and Right to Information applications.

Access the 2023 Report HERE

Previous reports are available as well: [2022] [2021] [2020] [2019] [2018] [2017] [2016].

Introduction

At the end of 2023, 561 prisoners were living under a sentence of death, which is the highest population on death row in a single calendar year in nearly two decades as per the records published by the National Crime Records Bureau. As of 31st December 2023, 120 death sentences were imposed by trial courts across the country.

STATISTICS

Sessions Courts

Death sentences in 2022

167

Death sentences in 2023

120 High Courts

Prisoners (Cases)

Confirmations

Commutations

Acquittals

REMITTED

1 (1)

36 (26)

5 (3)

Supreme Court

Prisoners (Cases)

Confirmations

Commutations

Acquittals

REMITTED

0 (0)

3 (3)

6 (5)

2 (2)

DEVELOPMENTS IN THE LAW

Three new criminal law bills to replace the Indian Penal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code and the Indian Evidence Act were passed by the Indian Parliament in December 2023 and received presidential assent. The Bharatiya Nyaya (Second) Sanhita, which replaces the IPC, increases the number of offences punishable by death from twelve to eighteen. Procedures and time limits for filing mercy petitions by death row prisoners are codified by The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha (Second) Sanhita, which replaces the CrPC, codifies the procedure for filing of mercy petitions by death row prisoners and introduces time limits for the filing of these petitions. The Supreme Court has directed the constitution of a committee of experts to re-examine whether hanging as a method of execution in capital punishment is in line with constitutional standards, 40 years after this method was upheld in Deena v. Union of India (1983).