The Indian Penal Code (IPC) is the principal criminal code of India that defines crimes and provides punishments for almost all kinds of criminal and actionable wrongs. The IPC extends to the whole of India except the states of Jammu and Kashmir and is an extensive law that covers all the substantive aspects of criminal law from nuisance at public places to murder, rape, dacoity, etc.
The IPC came into existence in 1860 on recommendations of the first law commission of India established in 1834 under the Charter Act of 1833. The Code was made effective during the British rule in January 1, 1862 and was applicable to the whole of the then British India except the princely states as they had their own courts and legal systems till 1940s.
The Code was later adopted by the Independent India and Pakistan after partition. The Ranbir Penal Code applicable in Jammu and Kashmir is also based on this Code. It is applicable to all the citizens of India. The IPC has been amended numerous times since then and is now supplemented by various other criminal provisions. At present, the IPC is divided into 23 chapters and contains 511 sections in total.
Indian Penal Code has laid down as to what is a wrong and what is the punishment for committing such wrong. This Code consolidates the whole of the law on the subject and is exhaustive on the matters in respect of which it declares the law. A chapter-wise summary of the important provisions of the Code has been laid down as follows:
1. Chapter IV- General Exceptions
IPC recognizes defenses in chapter four under the heading ‘General Exceptions.’ Sections 76 to 106 of the IPC cover these defenses. The law offers certain defenses that protects a person from criminal liability. These defenses are based on the premise that though the person committed the offense, he cannot be held liable. This is because, at the time of the commission of the offense, either the prevailing circumstances were such that the act of the person was justified or his condition was such that he could not form the requisite mens rea (guilty intention) for the crime. The defenses are generally classified under two heads- justifiable and excusable. Thus, for committing a wrong, a person must be responsible for doing a wrongful act without having any justification or excuse for it.
2. Chapter V- Abetment
A crime may be committed by one or more persons involved in crime then their liability depends upon the extent of their participation. Thus this rule of joint liability comes into existence. But there is an important fact which is that the law has a knowledge about the abettor, who has given help to another in crime. This rule is very ancient and was applied in Hindu Law also. In English Law, criminals are divided in four categories, but in India there is only one distinction between the doer and his helper who is known as abettor. The crime of abetment come under section 107 to 120 of the IPC. Section 107 defines ‘abetment of a things’ and section l08 defines the abettor.
3. Chapter VI- Offences against the State
Chapter VI, Section 121 to Section 130 of the Indian Penal Code deals with offences against State. The Indian Penal Code 1860 has made provisions to safeguard and preserve State's existence and has provided the most severe punishment of the death sentence or life imprisonment and fine in case of offence against the state. This chapter includes offences like waging war, collecting arms to wage war, sedition, etc.
4. Chapter VIII- Offences against Public Tranquility
This Chapter explains the provisions about the offences against the public tranquility. This Chapter contains sections 141 to 160. The Unlawful Assembly, Rioting, Affray, etc., are the main offences. These offences are injurious to the public peace. For the development of a society, there must be peace in the society. Hence the framers of the Code incorporated these provisions stating and defining the offences which are against the public tranquility.
5. Chapter XII- Offences relating to Coins and Government Stamps
This Chapter covers section 230 to 263A of the IPC and deals with offences relating to coin and government stamps. These offences can be counterfeiting coins, making or selling or possessing instrument for counterfeiting coins or Indian coins, importing or exporting of counterfeit coin, counterfeit stamp, possession of counterfeit stamp, effacing any writ¬ing from any substance bearing Government stamp to cause loss to Government, using stamp known to have been used before, etc.
6. Chapter XIV- Offences affecting public health, safety, maintenance, decency and morals
This chapter contains sections 268 to 294A. The main offences covered under this chapter are Public Nuisance, Adulteration of food or drink intended for sale, Adulteration of drugs, Rash driving, negligent conduct with regard to poisonous substance, negligent conduct with respect to animal, sale of obscene books, sale of obscene objects to young person, obscene acts and songs.
7. Chapter XVI- Offences affecting the Human Body
In an appropriate case, additional charges may be brought against anyone under the Penal Code for offences affecting the human body. Chapter XVI (Sections 299 to 311) of the Penal Code criminalizes acts affecting the human body i.e. those that cause death and physical harm, including grievous harm, assault, sexual offences and wrongful confinement. These legislative provisions cover violence against persons in general, and offences of this nature are considered very serious and usually carry hefty punishments. For example, the offence of voluntarily causing grievous hurt carries the punishment of imprisonment of up to 10 years as well as a fine.
8. Chapter XVIII- Offences relating to documents and property marks
Chapter-XVIII of the Indian Penal Code explains the provisions about the offences relating to documents and to property marks. This Chapter contains Sees. 463 to 489-E. Of them, sees. 463 to 477-A explain the provisions about “Forgery”, “Forged documents”, making of false documents and punishments. Sec. 463 defines “Forgery”. Sec. 464 explains about making “False Document”. Sec. 465 prescribes punishment for forgery. Sec. 466 explains forgery of record of Court or of public register, etc. Sec. 467 states about forgery of valuable security, will, etc. Sec. 468 explains forgery for purpose of cheating. Sec. 469 states forgery for purpose of harming reputation. Sec. 470 defines forged documents. Remaining Sections, i.e., from Sec. 471 to Sec. 477-A are aggravated forms of forgery.
9. Chapter XX- Offences relating to marriage & Chapter XXA- Cruelty by husband or relatives of husband
Section 493 to 498A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, deals with the offences relating to marriage. Section 493 of the Code deals with the offence of cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage. Section 494 deals with offence of marrying again during lifetime of husband or wife. Section 496 deals with the offence of marriage ceremony fraudulently gone through without lawful marriage. Section 497 dealt with adultery which has been recently decriminalized by the Supreme Court. Section 498 deals with enticing or taking away or detaining with criminal intent a married woman. Section 498A deals with cruelty against a woman by the husband or his relatives.
10. Chapter XXI- Defamation
Section 499 to 502 of the Indian Penal Code deals with the defamation. Offence of defamation can be dealt both under the criminal law as well as under Law of Torts. Criminal nature of defamation is defined under section 499 and section 500 provides for its punishment.
11. Chapter XXII- Criminal Intimidation, Insult and Annoyance
Section 503 to 510 talk about criminal intimidation, insult and annoyance. Section 503 defines criminal intimidation. Section 504 prescribes punishment for intentional insult to cause breach the public peace. Section 505 deals with the offence of statements conducing public mischief. Section 506 provides the punishment for criminal intimidation. Section 507 spells out the punishment for criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication, or having taken precaution to conceal the name or abode of the person from whom the threat comes. Section 508 deals with any act caused by inducing to believe that he will be rendered an object of divine displeasure. Section 509 deals with the offence of using any word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a women. Section 510 deals with misconduct in public by a drunken person.