BNS 36 — Right of private defence against act of a person of unsound mind, etc.

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Statutory text

36. When an act, which would otherwise be a certain offence, is not
that offence, by reason of the youth, the want of maturity of understanding,
the unsoundness of mind or the intoxication of the person doing that act,
or by reason of any misconception on the part of that person, every person
has the same right of private defence against that act which he would have
if the act were that offence.
Illustrations.
(a) Z, a person of unsound mind, attempts to kill A; Z is guilty of no
offence. But A has the same right of private defence which he would have
if Z were sane.
(b) A enters by night a house which he is legally entitled to enter. Z,
in good faith, taking A for a house-breaker, attacks A. Here Z, by attacking
A under this misconception, commits no offence. But A has the same right
of  private  defence  against  Z,  which  he  would have  if  Z  were  not  acting
under that misconception.
Acts against which there is no right of private defence.

Back to BNS