INDIAN PENAL CODE, 1860
BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023
98. Right of private defence against the act of a person of unsound mind,
36. Right of private defence against act of a person of unsound mind, etc.
changed or removed in old law
changed or added in new law
Similar wording stays plain; only differences are highlighted.
INDIAN PENAL CODE, 1860
Right of private defence against the act of a person of unsound mind,
etc.
98. Right of private defence against the act of a person of
unsound mind, etc.--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, under the influence of madness, 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.
Repealed / historical reference India Code — IPC 1860
BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023
36. Right of private defence against act of a person of unsound mind, etc.—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.
Current law India Code — BNS 2023