INDIAN PENAL CODE, 1860
BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023
92. Act done in good faith for benefit of a person without consent.
30. Act done in good faith for benefit of a person without consent.
changed or removed in old law
changed or added in new law
Similar wording stays plain; only differences are highlighted.
INDIAN PENAL CODE, 1860
Act done in good faith for benefit of a person without consent.
92. Act done in good faith for benefit of a person without
consent.-Nothing is an offence by reason of any harm which it may
causes to a person for whose benefit it is done in good faith, even
without that person's consent, if the circumstances are such that it
is impossible for that person to signify consent, or if that person is
incapable of giving consent, and has no guardian or other person in
lawful charge of him from whom it is possible to obtain consent in
time for the thing to be done with benefit: Provided-
Provisos.
Provisos.-First.-That this exception shall not extend to the
intentional causing of death or the attempting to cause death;
Secondly.-That this exception shall not extend to the doing
of anything which the person doing it knows to be likely to cause
death, for any purpose other than the preventing of death or
grievous hurt, or the curing of any grievous disease or
infirmity;
Thirdly.-That this exception shall not extend to the
voluntary causing of hurt, or to the attempting to cause hurt,
for any purpose other than the preventing of death or hurt;
Fourthly.-That this exception shall not extend to the
abetment of any offence, to the committing of which offence it
would not extend.
Illustrations
(a) Z is thrown from his horse, and is insensible. A, a surgeon,
finds that Z requires to be trepanned. A, not intending Z's death, but
in good faith, for Z's benefit, performs the trepan before Z recovers
his power of judging for himself. A has committed no offence.
(b) Z is carried off by a tiger. A fires at the tiger knowing it
to be likely that the shot may kill Z, but not intending to kill Z,
and in good faith intending Z's benefit. A's ball gives Z a mortal
wound. A has committed no offence.
(c) A, a surgeon, sees a child suffer an accident which is likely
to prove fatal unless an operation be immediately performed. There is
not time to apply to the child's guardian. A performs the operation in
spite of the entreaties of the child, intending, in good faith, the
child's benefit. A has committed no offence.
(d) A is in a house which is on fire, with Z, a child. People
below hold out a blanket. A drops the child, from the house-top,
knowing it to be likely that the fall may kill the child, but not
intending to kill the child, and intending, in good faith, the child's
benefit. Here, even if the child is killed by the fall, A has
committed no offence.
Explanation.-Mere pecuniary benefit is not benefit within the
meaning of sections 88 89 and 92.
Repealed / historical reference India Code — IPC 1860
BHARATIYA NYAYA SANHITA, 2023
30. Act done in good faith for benefit of a person without consent.—Nothing is an offence by
reason of any harm which it may cause to a person for whose benefit it is done in good faith, even
without that person’s consent, if the circumstances are such that it is impossible for that person to signify
consent, or if that person is incapable of giving consent, and has no guardian or other person in lawful
charge of him from whom it is possible to obtain consent in time for the thing to be done with benefit:
Provided that this exception shall not extend to—
(a) the intentional causing of death, or the attempting to cause death;
(b) the doing of anything which the person doing it knows to be likely to cause death, for any
purpose other than the preventing of death or grievous hurt, or the curing of any grievous disease or
infirmity;
(c) the voluntary causing of hurt, or to the attempting to cause hurt, for any purpose other than
the preventing of death or hurt;
(d) the abetment of any offence, to the committing of which offence it would not extend.
Illustrations.
(1) Z is thrown from his horse, and is insensible. A, a surgeon, finds that Z requires to be trepanned.
A, not intending Z’s death, but in good faith, for Z’s benefit, performs the trepan before Z recovers his
power of judging for himself. A has committed no offence.
(2) Z is carried off by a tiger. A fires at the tiger knowing it to be likely that the shot may kill Z, but
not intending to kill Z, and in good faith intending Z’s benefit. A’s bullet gives Z a mortal wound. A has
committed no offence.
(3) A, a surgeon, sees a child suffer an accident which is likely to prove fatal unless an operation be
immediately performed. There is no time to apply to the child’s guardian. A performs the operation in
spite of the entreaties of the child, intending, in good faith, the child’s benefit. A has committed no
offence.
(4) A is in a house which is on fire, with Z, a child. People below hold out a blanket. A drops the
child from the house top, knowing it to be likely that the fall may kill the child, but not intending to kill
the child, and intending, in good faith, the child’s benefit. Here, even if the child is killed by the fall, A
has committed no offence.
Explanation.—Mere pecuniary benefit is not benefit within the meaning of sections 26, 27 and this
section.
Current law India Code — BNS 2023