The Indian Penal Code (IPC) is the general penal law in India. It defines various types of offences and punishments for them. General exceptions and other general legal terms relating to offences are also defined here.
The Indian Penal Code
[Act 45 of 1860] [6th October, 1860]
Preamble.—Whereas it is expedient to provide a general Penal Code for [i][India]; It is enacted as follows:
Chapter I
INTRODUCTION
1. Title and extent of operation of the Code.
1. Title and extent of operation of the Code.—This Act shall be called the Indian Penal Code, and shall [ii][extend to the whole of India [iii][* * *]].
2. Punishment of offences committed within India.
2. Punishment of offences committed within India.—Every person shall be liable to punishment under this Code and not otherwise for every act or omission contrary to the provisions thereof, of which he shall be guilty within [iv][India] [v][* * *].
3. Punishment of offences committed beyond, but which by law may be tried within, India.
3. Punishment of offences committed beyond, but which by law may be tried within, India.—Any person liable, by any [vi][Indian law], to be tried for an offence committed beyond [vii][India] shall be dealt with according to the provisions of this Code for any act committed beyond [viii][India] in the same manner as if such act had been committed within [ix][India].
4. Extension of Code to extra-territorial offences.
[x][4. Extension of Code to extra-territorial offences.—The provisions of this Code apply also to any offence committed by—
[xi][(1) any citizen of India in any place without and beyond India;
(2) any person on any ship or aircraft registered in India wherever it may be;]
[xii][(3) any person in any place without and beyond India committing offence targeting a computer resource located in India.]
[xiii][Explanation.—In this section—
(a) the word “offence” includes every act committed outside India which, if committed in India, would be punishable under this Code;
(b) the expression “computer resource” shall have the meaning assigned to it in clause (k) of sub-section (1) of Section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000).]
[xiv][Illustration]
[xv][* * *] A, [xvi][who is [xvii][a citizen of India]], commits a murder in Uganda. He can be tried and convicted of murder in any place in [xviii][India] in which he may be found.
[xix][* * *]
5. Certain laws not to be affected by this Act.
[xx][5. Certain laws not to be affected by this Act.—Nothing in this Act shall affect the provisions of any Act for punishing mutiny and desertion of officers, soldiers, sailors or airmen in the service of the Government of India or the provisions of any special or local law.]
References
[i] Substituted by Act 3 of 1951 for “the whole of India except Part B States”.
[ii] Substituted by the A.O. 1948 for “take effect throughout British India”.
[iii] The words “except the State of Jammu and Kashmir” omitted by Act 34 of 2019, Ss. 95 & 96 and Sch. V (w.e.f. 31-10-2019).
[iv] Substituted by Act 3 of 1951 for “the States”.
[v] The words and figures “on or after the said first day of May, 1861” omitted by Act 12 of 1891.
[vi] Substituted by the A.O. 1937 for “law passed by the Governor-General of India in Council”.
[vii] Substituted by Act 3 of 1951 for “the States”.
[viii] Substituted by Act 3 of 1951 for “the States”.
[ix] Substituted by Act 3 of 1951 for “the States”.
[x] Substituted by Act 4 of 1898, S. 2, for the original S. 4.
[xi] Substituted by the A.O. 1950 for the original clauses (1) to (4).
[xii] Inserted by Act 10 of 2009, S. 51 (w.e.f. 27-10-2009).
[xiii] Substituted by Act 10 of 2009, S. 51 (w.e.f. 27-10-2009).
[xiv] Substituted for “Illustrations” by Act 36 of 1957, S. 3 and Sch. II.
[xv] The brackets and letters “(a)” omitted by Act 36 of 1957, S. 3 and Sch. II.
[xvi] Substituted by the A.O. 1948 for “a coolie, who is a Native Indian subject”.
[xvii] Substituted by the A.O. 1950 for “a British subject of Indian domicile”.
[xviii] Substituted by Act 3 of 1951 for “the States”.
[xix] Illustrations (b), (c) and (d) were rep. by the A.O. 1950.
[xx] Substituted by the A.O. 1950 for the former S. 5.
