CAREERS

Project 39A is a research and legal aid centre at the National Law University Delhi. It provides pro bono legal representation to death row prisoners across India, in addition to conducting empirical and doctrinal research on the death penalty, prevention of torture, legal aid, sentencing, and mental health and criminal justice. Currently, Project 39A is representing 60% of all death penalty cases in the Supreme Court. Since its inception in 2014, Project 39A  has secured 22 acquittals in the Supreme Court and High Courts and 44 commutations, i.e. conversion of the death sentence to life imprisonment. Project 39A provided legal representation to the accused, in Accused X vs. State of Maharashtra (2019) where the Supreme Court recognised post-conviction mental illness as a mitigating circumstance in sentencing. It also provided legal representation to all three accused in the landmark case of Manoj & Ors. vs. State of Madhya Pradesh (2022) where the Supreme Court laid down death penalty sentencing guidelines.