ATTEMPTS TO COMMIT OFFENCES :
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Section 511, lays down that "whoever attempts to commit
an offence punishable by this Code with imprisonment for
life
or imprisonment, or to cause such an offence to be
committed, and in such attempt does any act towards the
commission of the offence, shall, where no express
provision is made by this Code for the punishment of such
attempt,
be punished with imprisonment of any description provided
for the offence, for a term which may extend to one-half of
the imprisonment for life or, as the case may be, one-half of
the longest term of imprisonment provided for that offence,
with such fine as provided for the offence, or with both.
The points which require proof under the above section are:
(1) that the accused attempted to commit some offence
punishable with imprisonment for life or imprisonment; or
that he
attempted to cause such an offence to be committed ;
(2) that in attempting to do the above act he did some act
towards the commission of the offence.
ILLUSTRATIONS :
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(a) A makes an attempt to steal some jewels by breaking
open a box and finds after so opening the box, that there is
no
jewel in it. He has done an act towards the commission of
theft, and therefore is guilty under the above section.
(b) A makes an attempt to pick the pocket of Z by thrusting
his hand into Z's pocket. A fails in the attempt in
consequence z's having nothing in his pocket. A is guilty of
an offence under the above section.