CHAPTER IV
GENERAL EXCEPTIONS
76. Act done by a person bound, or by mistake of fact believing himself bound, by
law: Nothing is an offence which Is done by a person who is, or who by reason of a
mistake of fact and not reason of a mistake of law in good faith believes himself to be,
bound by law to do it.
Illustrations
(a) A, a soldier, fires on a mob by the order of his superior officer, in conformity, with the
commands of the law. A has committed no offence.
(b) A an officer of a Court of Justice, being ordered by that Court to arrest Y and after due
enquiry, believing Z to be Y arrests Z. A has committed no offence.
77. Act of Judge when acting judicially: Nothing is an offence which is done by a Judge
when acting judicially in the exercise of any power which is, or which in good faith he
believes to be,' given to him by law.
78. Act done pursuant to the judgment or order of Court: Nothing which is done in
pursuance of, or which is warranted by the judgment or order of, a Court of Justice, if
done whilst such judgment or order remains in force, is an offence, notwithstanding the
Court may have had no jurisdiction to pass such judgment or order, provided the person
doing the act in good faith believes that the Court had such jurisdiction.
79. Act done by a person justified, or by mistake of fact believing himself justified,
by law: Nothing is an offence which is done by any person who is justified by law, or who
by reason of a mistake of fact and not by reason of a mistake of law in good faith, believes
himself to be justified by law, in doing it.
Illustration

A sees Z commit what appears to A to be a murder. A, in the exercise, to the best of his
judgment, exerted in good faith of the power which the law gives to all persons of
apprehending murders in the act, seizes Z, in order to bring Z before the proper
authorities. A has committed no offence, though it may turn out that Z was acting in self-
defence.
80. Accident in doing a lawful act: Nothing is an offence which is done by accident or
misfortune, and without any criminal intention or knowledge in the doing of a lawful act
in a lawful manner by lawful means and with proper care and caution.
Illustration
A is at work with a hatchet; the head flies off and kills a man who is standing by. Here if
there was no want of proper caution on the part of A, his act is excusable and not an
offence.
81. Act likely to cause harm, but done without criminal intent, and to prevent other
harm: Nothing is an offence merely by reason of its being done with the knowledge
that it is likely to cause harm, if it be done without any criminal intention to cause harm,
and in good faith for the purpose of preventing or avoiding other harm to person or
property.
Explanation : It is a question of fact in such a case whether the harm to be prevented or
avoided was of such a nature and so imminent as to justify or excuse the risk of doing
the act with the knowledge that it was likely to cause harm.
Illustrations
(a) A, the captain of a steam vessel, suddenly and without any fault or negligence on his
part, finds himself in such a position that, before he can stop his vessel, he must inevitably
run down a boat B, with twenty or thirty passengers on board; unless he changes the
course of his vessel, and that, by changing his course, he must incur risk of running down
a boat C with only two passengers on board, which he may possibly clear Here, if A alters
his course without any intention to run down the boat C and in good faith for the purpose
of avoiding the danger to the passengers in the boat B, he is not guilty of an offence,
though he may run down the boat C by doing an act which he knew was likely to cause
that effect, if it be found as a matter of fact that the danger which he intended to avoid was
such as to excuse him incurring the risk of running down C.
(b)A, in a great fire, pulls down houses in order to prevent the conflagration from
spreading. He does this with the intention in good faith of saving human life or property.
Here, if it be found that the harm to be prevented was of such a nature and so imminent
as to excuse A's act, A is not guilty of the offence.
82. Act of a child under seven years of age: Nothing is an offence, which is done by a
child under seven years of age.

83. Act of a child above seven and under twelve of immature understanding: Nothing
is an offence which is done by a child above seven years of age and under twelve,
who has not attained sufficient maturity of understanding to judge of the nature and
consequences of his conduct on that occasion.
84. Act of a person of unsound mind: Nothing is an offence which is done by a person
who, at the time of doing it, by reason of unsoundness of mind, is incapable of knowing
the nature of the act, or that he is doing what is either wrong.. or contrary to law.
85. Act of a person incapable of Judgment by reason of intoxication caused against
his will: Nothing is an offence which is done by a person who, at the time of doing it,
is, by reason of intoxication, incapable of knowing the nature of the act, or that he is doing
what is either wrong, or contrary to law; provided that the thing which intoxicated him was
administered to him without his knowledge or against his will.
86. Offence requiring a particular intent or knowledge committed by one who is
intoxicated: In cases where an act done is not an offence unless done with a particular
knowledge or intent, a person who dose the act in a state of intoxication shall be liable to
be dealt with as if he had the same knowledge as he would have had if he had not been
intoxicated, unless the thing which intoxicated him was administered to him without his
knowledge or against his will.
87. Act not Intended and not known to be likely to cause death or grievous hurt,
done by consent: Nothing which is not intended to cause death, or grievous hurt, and
which is not known by doer to be likely to cause death, or grievous hurt, is an offence by
reason of any harm which it may cause, or be intended by the doer to cause, to any
person, above eighteen years of age, who has given consent, whether express or implied,
to suffer that harm; or by reason of any harm which it may be known by the doer to be
likely to cause to any such person who has consented to take the risk of that harm.
Illustration
A and Z agree to fence with each other for amusement. This agreement implies the
consent of each to suffer any harm which in the course of such fencing, may be caused
without foul play; and if A, while playing fairly, hurts Z, A commits no offence.
88. Act not intended to cause death, done by consent in good faith for person's
benefit: Nothing, which is not intended to cause death, is an offence by reason of any
harm which it may cause, or be intended by the doer to cause, or be known by the doer to
be likely to cause, to any person for whose benefit it is done in good faith, and who has
given a consent, whether express or implied, to suffer that harm, or to take the risk of that
harm.
Illustration
A, a surgeon, knowing that a particular operation is likely to cause of death of Z, who
suffers under the painful complaint, but not intending to cause Z's death, and intending, in

good faith for Z's benefit, performs that operation on Z. with Z's consent. A has-committed
no offence.
89. Act done In good faith for benefit of child or insane person, by or by consent of
guardian: Nothing which is done in good faith for the benefit of a person under twelve
years of age, or of unsound mind, by or by consent, either express or implied, of the
guardian or other person having lawful charge of that person, is an offence by reason of
any harm which it may cause, or be intended by the doer to cause or be known by the
doer to be likely to cause to that person:
Provided First: That this exception shall not extend to the intentional causing of death, or
to 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 grievous hurt, or to
the attempting to cause grievous hurt, unless it be for the purpose of preventing death or
grievous hurt, or the curing of any grievous disease or infirmity;
Fourthly: That this exception shall not extend to the abetment of any offence, to the
committing of which offence it would not extend.
Illustration
A, in good faith, for his child's benefit without his child's consent, has his child cut for the
stone by "a surgeon, knowing it to be likely that the operation will cause the child's death,
but not intending to cause the child's death. A is within the exception, inasmuch as his
object was the cure of the child.
90. Consent known to be given under fear or misconception: A consent is not such a
consent as is intended by any action of this Code, if the consent is given by a person
under fear of injury, or under a misconception of fact, and if the person doing the act
knows, or has reason to believe, that the consent was given in consequence of such
fear or misconception; or
Consent of insane person: If the consent is given by a person who, from unsoundness
of mind, or intoxication, is unable to understand the nature and consequence of that to
which he gives his consent; or
Consent of child: Unless the contrary appears from the context, if the consent is given by
a person who is under twelve years of age.
91. Exclusion of acts which are offences independently of harm caused : The
exceptions in Sections 87, 88 and 89 do not extend to acts which are offences

independently of any harm which they may cause, or be intended to cause, or be known
to be likely to cause, to the person giving the consent or on whose behalf the consent is
given.
Illustration
Causing miscarriage (unless caused in good faith for the purpose of saving the life of the
woman) to an offence independently of any harm which it may cause or be intended, to
cause to the woman. Therefore it is not an offence by reason of such harm; and the
consent of the woman or of her guardian to the causing of such miscarriage dose not
justify the act.
92. Act done in good faith for benefit of a person without consent: Nothing an offence
by reason of any harm which it may cause to a person by whose benefit it is done in good
faith even without that person's consent, if the Circumstances are such that 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 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.
Illustration
(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 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.

(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.
93. Communication made in good faith: No communication made in good faith is an
offence by reason of any harm to the person to whom it is made for the benefit of that
person. '
Illustration
A, a surgeon, in good-faith, communicates to a patient his opinion that he cannot live. The
patient dies in consequence of the shock. A has committed no offence, though he knew it
to be likely that the communication might cause the patient's death.
94. Act to which a person is compelled by threats: Except murder, and offences
against the State punishable with death, nothing is an offence which is done by a person
who is compelled to do it by threats, which, at the time of doing it, reasonably cause the
apprehension that instant death to that person will otherwise be the consequence:
Provided the person doing the act did not of his own accord, or from a reasonable
apprehension of harm to himself short of instant death, place himself in the situation by
which he became subject to such constraint.
Explanation 1: A person who, of his own accord, or by reason of a threat of being beaten,
joins a gang of dacoits, knowing their character, is not entitled to the benefit of this
exception on the ground" of his having been compelled by his associates to do anything
that is an offence by law.
Explanation 2: A person seized by a gang of dacoits, and forced by threat of instant death,
to do a thing, which is an offence by law; for example, a smith compelled to take his
tools and to force the door of a house for the dacoits to enter and plunder it, is entitled to
the benefit of this exception.
95. Act causing slight harm: Nothing is an offence by reason that it causes, or that it is
intended to cause, or that it is known to be likely to cause, any harm, if that harm. is so
slight that no person of ordinary sense and temper would complain of such harm.
Of the right of Private Defence
96. Things done in private defence: Nothing is an offence which is done in the exercise
of the right of private defence.
97. Right of private defence of the body and of property: Every person has a right,
subject to the restrictions contained in Section 99, to defend;

First: His own body, and the body of any other person, against any offence affecting the
human body;
Secondly: The property, whether movable or immovable, of himself or of any other
person, against any act which is an offence falling under the definition of theft, robbery,
mischief or criminal trespass, or which is an attempt to commit theft, robbery, mischief or
criminal trespass.
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.
99. Act against which there is no right of private defence: There is no right of private
defence against an act which dose not reasonably cause the apprehension of death
or of grievous hurt, if done, or attempted to be done by a public servant acting in good
faith under colour, of his office, though that act may not be strictly justifiable by law.
There is no right of private defence against an act which dose not reasonably
cause the apprehension of death or of grievous hurt, if done, or attempted to be done, by
the direction of a public servant acting in good faith under colour of his office though that
direction may not be strictly justifiable by law.
There is no right of private defence in cases in which there is time to have recourse to the
protection of the public authorities.
Extent to which the right may be exercised : The right of private defence in no
case extends to the inflicting of more harm than it is necessary to inflict for the purpose of
defence.
Explanation 1 :A person is not deprived of the right of private defence against an act done,
or attempted to be done, by a public servant, as such, unless he knows, or has reason
to believe, that the person doing the act is such public servant.

Explanation 2: A person is not deprived of the right of private defence against an act done,
or attempted to be done, by the direction of a public servant, unless he knows, or has
reason to believe, that the person doing the act is acting by such direction, or unless such
person states the authority under which he acts, or if he has authority in writing, unless he
produces such authority, if deemed.
100. When the right of private defence of the body extends to causing death: The
right of private defence of the body extends, under the restrictions mentioned in the last
preceding section, to the voluntary causing of death or of any other harm to the assailant,
if the offence which occasions the exercise of the right be of any of the descriptions
hereinafter enumerated, namely:--
First: Such an assault as may reasonably cause the apprehension that death will
otherwise be the consequence of such assault;
Secondly : Such an assault as may reasonably cause the apprehension that grievous hurt
will otherwise be the consequence of such assault;
Thirdly: An assault with the intention of committing rape;
Fourthly: An assault with the intention of gratifying unnatural lust.
Fifthly: An assault with the intention of kidnapping or abduction.
Sixthly: An assault with the intention of wrongfully confining a person, under
circumstances which may reasonably cause him to apprehend that he will be unable to
have recourse to the public authorities for his release.
101. When such right extends to causing any harm other than death: If the offence
be not of any of the descriptions enumerated in the last preceding section, the right of
private defence of the body dose not extend to the voluntary causing of death to the
assailant, but dose extend, under the restrictions mentioned in Section 99 to the voluntary
causing to the assailant of any harm other than death.
102. Commencement and continuance of the right of private defence of the body:
The right of private defence of the body commences as soon as a reasonable
apprehension .of danger to the body arises from an attempt or threat to commit the
offence though the offence may not have been committed; and it continues as long as
Such apprehension of danger to the body continues.
103. When the right of private defence of property extends to causing death: The
right of private defence of property extends, under the restrictions mentioned in Section
99, to the voluntary Causing of death or of any other harm to the wrong-doer, if the
offence, the committing of which, or the attempting to commit which, occasions the
exercise of the right, be an offence of any of the descriptions hereinafter enumerated,
namely:-.

First: Robbery;
Secondly : House-breaking by night;
Thirdly : Mischief by fire committed on any building, tent or vessel, which building, tent or
vessel is used as a human dwelling or as a place for the custody of property;
Fourthly : Theft, mischief or house-trespass, under such circumstances as may
reasonably cause apprehension that death or grievous hurt will be the consequence, if
such right of private defence is not exercised.
104. When such right extends to causing any harm other than death : If the offence,
the committing of which, or the attempting to commit which, occasions the exercise of the
right of private defence, be theft, mischief or criminal trespass, not of any of the
descriptions enumerated in the last preceding section that right dose not extend, to the
voluntary causing of death, but dose extend, subject to the restrictions mentioned
in Section 99, to the voluntary causing to the wrong-doer of any harm other than death.
105. Commencement and continuance of the right of private defence of property:
The right of private defence of property commences when a reasonable apprehension of
danger to the property commences.
The right of private defence of property against theft continues tilt the offender has
effected his retreat with the property or either the assistance of the public authorities is
obtained, or the property has been recovered.
The right of private defence of property against robbery Continues as long as the offender
causes or attempts to cause to any person death or hurt or wrongful restraint or as long as
the fear of instant death or of instant-hurt or of instant personal restraint continues.
The right of private defence of property against criminal trespass or mischief continues as
long as the offender continues in the commission of criminal trespass or mischief.
The right of private defence of property against house breaking by night continues as long
as the house-trespass which has been begun by such house-breaking continues.
106. Right of private defence against deadly assault when there is risk of harm to
innocent person: If in the exercise of the right of private defence against an assault
which reasonably causes the apprehension of death, the defender be so situated that he
cannot effectually exercise that right without risk of harm to an innocent person, his right of
private defence extends to the running of that risk.
Illustration
A is attacked by a mob who attempt to murder him. He can not effectually exercise his
right of private defence with out firing on the mob, and he cannot fire without risk of

harming young children who are mingled with the mob. A commits no offence if by so
firing he harms any of the children.