Supreme Court Limits Sentencing for Attempted Murder Under Section 307, IPC

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court on Monday clarified that a person convicted of attempted murder under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) cannot be sentenced to rigorous imprisonment exceeding 10 years unless the punishment is imprisonment for life. The bench, comprising Justices CT Ravikumar and Rajesh Bindal, emphasized that the legislature’s intention is clear and mandates adherence to the maximum sentence prescribed for attempted murder cases under the first part of Section 307, IPC.

The court highlighted that the first part of Section 307, IPC, prescribes a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment, while the second part entails a life term if such acts cause injuries to the victim. The bench stated that if the court does not impose life imprisonment, the punishment must not exceed ten years. This interpretation restricts courts from imposing sentences beyond ten years unless the convict is sentenced to life imprisonment, ensuring proportionality in sentencing.

This clarification came as the bench heard an appeal by two convicts sentenced to 14 years in an attempted murder case. Despite arguments justifying the 14-year sentence based on the nature of the injuries, the court ruled that the maximum permissible punishment, if life imprisonment is disproportionate, is ten years as specified under the first part of Section 307, IPC. This ruling reinforces legislative intent and proportionality in sentencing for attempted murder cases.

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