This article by Justice Markandey Katju explores the contentious issue of the death penalty, balancing moral opposition with practical necessity in rare and heinous cases. Drawing insights from Bheeshma Pitamah’s advice to Yudhishthir in the Mahabharat, Justice Katju highlights the need for firmness in governance. Citing landmark judgments, he argues for the death penalty in cases like honor killings, dowry deaths, fake police encounters, and barbaric crimes by individuals like Surendra Koli and Swami Shraddhanand. While acknowledging the global shift toward abolition, he contends that capital punishment serves as a vital deterrent and upholds justice in extreme scenarios.