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Indian Penal Code (IPC) - History, Structure, Provisions, Amendments, Significance And More

Last Updated on Dec 19, 2023
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The Indian Penal Code (IPC) was established during British rule in 1860 on the recommendations of the first Law Commission of India, which was established in 1834 under the Charter Act of 1833 and was led by Thomas Babington Macaulay. However, the Code was enacted on January 1, 1862, and applied to the entire then-British India, except the princely states. After Independence, the Government of India adopted it as the criminal code of the Republic of India. It is a comprehensive code that applies to all Indian citizens and covers all aspects of criminal law. Since India's independence, the IPC has undergone numerous revisions and now includes several additional criminal statutes.

This topic of the “Indian Penal Code” is important from the perspective of the UPSC IAS Examination, which falls under General Studies Paper 2 (Mains) and General Studies Paper 1 (Prelims) particularly in the Polity section. In this article, we shall discuss the IPC, its history, structure, significance, provisions, criticism related to the IPC, and more!

Latest Update

The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, was presented in the Lok Sabha on August 11, 2023. It replaces the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. This Code outlines arrest, prosecution, and bail processes for offenses under various acts, including the Indian Penal Code, of 1860.

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What is the Indian Penal Code(IPC)?

The Indian Penal Code (IPC) serves as the fundamental legal framework in India for establishing criminal liability related to specified offenses and setting exceptions to criminal liability for these offenses. It encompasses a comprehensive set of laws addressing all substantive aspects of criminal law, defining civil law rights, responsibilities, crimes, and punishments. Substantive Criminal Law, within the IPC, specifies the definitions of crimes like 'Robbery,' 'Assault,' and 'Murder,' and outlines the characteristics of these crimes and the corresponding penalties. The IPC meticulously defines each offense, incorporating all necessary elements to constitute the offense. Therefore, the IPC is the legal instrument that delineates punishable offenses and their associated penalties. It applies to all Indian citizens and individuals of Indian origin, regardless of location. The IPC is organized into 23 chapters and consists of 511 sections.

History Of Indian Penal Code 

The Indian Penal Code has its roots in the times of British rule in India. It is known to have originated from British legislation regarding its colonial conquests, dating back to the year 1860. Before the East India Company drafted the Indian Penal Code, the Mohammedan law was in effect in India. Mohomedan criminal law applied to both Hindus and Muslims.

  • In 1834, the First Law Commission, led by Thomas Babington Macaulay, drafted the Indian Penal Code under the Charter Act of 1833, which was submitted to the Governor-General of India Council in 1837, but it was again revised.
  • The Code was completed in 1850 and presented to the Legislative Council in 1856; however, it did not take its place in British India's statute book following the Indian Rebellion of 1857.
  • It was finally passed into law on October 6, 1860, after a careful revision by Barnes Peacock, who later became the first Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.
  • The Code became effective on January 1, 1862. Unfortunately, Macaulay died near the end of 1859 and did not live to see his masterpiece become law.
  • It applied to the entire then-British India.
  • However, until the 1940s, it did not apply automatically to the Princely states, which had their own courts and legal systems.
  • In its 42nd Report in 1971, the Law Commission proposed revising the IPC, and as a result, several changes were made to it.
  • On September 6, 2018, the Supreme Court of India decriminalized homosexuality (Section 377 of the IPC).
  • Similarly, On September 27, 2018, a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court unanimously ruled to repeal Section 497 (Commonly known as adultery).
  • The code took effect in Jammu and Kashmir on October 31, 2019, as a result of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act of 2019, replacing the state's Ranbir Penal Code.

Structure and Provisions of IPC

There are 23 chapters and 511 sections in the India Penal Code, which can broadly be classified into four categories:

  • Chapters I to V deal with general matters relating to the extent, definitions, principles of liability, etc.
  • Chapters VI to XV deal with public matters between individuals and the state.
  • Chapters XVI to XXII are primarily concerned with criminal offences committed by individuals against individuals or legal entities other than the state.
  • Chapter XXIII: is residuary, establishing the principles of punishment for attempting to commit an offence where no specific provision has been made.

The following table summarises the code's basic structure:

Provisions of Indian Penal Code, 1860 - IPC Sections List

Chapter

Sections covered

Classification of offences

I

Section 1 to 5

Introduction.

II

Section 6 to 52

General Explanation.

III

Section 53 to 75

Punshments.

IV

Section 76 to 106

General Exceptions to the Right to Private Defense (Sections 96 to 106).

V

Sections 107 to 120

Of Abetment.

V-A

Sections 120A to 120B

Criminal Conspiracy.

VI

Sections 121 to 130

Of Offences against the State.

VII

Sections 131 to 140

Of Offences relating to the Army, Navy and Air Force.

VIII

Sections 141 to 160

Of Offences against the Public Tranquillity

IX

Sections 161 to 171

Of Offences by or relating to Public Servants.

IX-A

Sections 171 (A) to 171 (I)

Of Offences Relating to Elections.

X

Sections 172 to 190

Of Contempts of Lawful Authority of Public Servants

XI

Sections 191 to 229

Of False Evidence and Offences against Public Justice

XII

Sections 230 to 263

Of Offences relating to coin and Government Stamps

XIII

Sections 264 to 267

Of Offences relating to Weight and Measures

XIV

Sections 268 to 294

Of Offences affecting the Public Health, Safety, Convenience, Decency and Morals.

XV

Sections 295 to 298

Of Offences relating to Religion.

XVI

Sections 299 to 377

Of Offences affecting the Human Body, Including;

  • Of Offences Affecting Life including murder, culpable homicide (Sections 299 to 311)
  • Of the Causing of Miscarriage, of Injuries to Unborn Children, of the Exposure of Infants, and of the Concealment of Births (Sections 312 to 318)
  • Of Hurt (Sections 319 to 338)
  • Of Wrongful Restraint and Wrongful Confinement (Sections 339 to 348)
  • Of Criminal Force and Assault (Sections 349 to 358)
  • Of Kidnapping, Abduction, Slavery, and Forced Labour (Sections 359 to 374)
  • Sexual Offences including rape and Sodomy (Sections 375 to 377)

XVII

Sections 378 to 462

Of Offences Against Property, Including;

  • Of Theft (Sections 378 to 382)
  • Of Extortion (Sections 383 to 389)
  • Of Robbery and Dacoity (Sections 390 to 402)
  • Of Criminal Misappropriation of Property (Sections 403 to 404)
  • Of Criminal Breach of Trust (Sections 405 to 409)
  • Of the Receiving of Stolen Property (Sections 410 to 414)
  • Of Cheating (Section 415 to 420)
  • Of Fraudulent Deeds and Disposition of Property (Sections 421 to 424)
  • Of Mischief (Sections 425 to 440)
  • Of Criminal Trespass (Sections 441 to 462)

XVIII

Section 463 to 489 (E)

Offences relating to Documents and Property Marks, Including;

  • Offences relating to Documents (Section 463 to 477-A)
  • Offences relating to Property and Other Marks (Sections 478 to 489)
  • Offences relating to Currency Notes and Bank Notes (Sections 489A to 489E)

XIX

Sections 490 to 492

Of the Criminal Breach of Contracts of Service

XX

Sections 493 to 498

Of Offences related to marriage

XX-A

Sections 498A

Of Cruelty by Husband or Relatives of Husband

XXI

Sections 499 to 502

Of Defamation

XXII

Sections 503 to 510

Of Criminal intimidation, Insult and Annoyance

XXIII

Section 511

Of Attempts to Commit Offences

Significance of Indian Penal Code

The Charter Act of 1833 established a single legislature for the entire country in order to achieve uniformity of laws and judicial systems throughout British India. It is still the common-law world's longest-serving criminal code.

  • Presently, It is India's main criminal code, and each offence has been well defined, providing all of the necessary elements.
  • It defines what constitutes a crime and the penalties for committing such a crime.
  • Further, It serves as a reference guide for all rules governing decision-making and punishment in cases of fraudulent activity or misconduct.
  • This document focuses on all of the major offences that are prevalent in society.
  • It includes all relevant criminal offences dealing with crimes against the state, public offences, armed forces offences, kidnapping, rape, murder, etc.
  • It also covers religious and property offences, as well as a section on marriage offences, cruelty from husbands or relatives, defamation, and so on.
  • In the introduction chapter of IPC, it is stated that the provisions of the Penal Code apply to any offence committed by:
  • Any Indian citizen living outside or beyond India; and
  • Any person on any ship or aircraft registered in India, regardless of location.
  • The punishments in IPC are classified into five categories (Sections 53 to 75 of the IPC in Chapter III): death, life imprisonment, general imprisonment, forfeiture of property, and fine.
  • In addition to the general substantive criminal law codified in the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Central and State Legislations have passed numerous laws that are a part of the country's penal code to address particular issues.
  • Information Technology Act
  • Narcotics and Psychotropic Substances Act
  • Prevention of Corruption Act
  • Indecent Representation of Women Act, etc.

Criticism Related to IPC

The Indian Penal Code is a 160-year-old official criminal code of India. It was established by the British Government in 1860 and is primarily based on the principle of "master and servant," which is still followed today. The Code has not been completely amended since its introduction. Some major criticisms of the IPC are listed below:

  • The code has several Sections, such as 153A, Section 153B, Section 295A, and Section 505, that make the promotion of enmity in society a criminal offence. However, there is growing criticism of these sections in the country due to their misuse against creative, literary, and educational work.
  • Similarly, the Use and Misuse of Sedition Law (Section 124A of the Indian Penal Code) is a colonial-era relic that is unfit for Indian democracy today.
  • The argument for repealing Section 295A, which was added to the law in 1927, is that blasphemy is an offence that has no place in a liberal democracy.
  • Another criticism is the compatibility of Section 149 IPC (unlawful assembly) with Fundamental Rights.
  • Further, Many of the most serious offences listed in the IPC do not have appropriate punishments, resulting in inequity.

Conclusion

The Indian Penal Code has opened a new chapter in the Indian legal system. It has provided the foundation for all types of legal interventions. It is a comprehensive code that addresses nearly every substantive aspect of criminal law. It is divided into four sections and contains 23 chapters and 511 sections. For the last 160 years, it has been in operation as a significant substantive penal law of India. 

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Indian Penal Code FAQs

The Indian Penal Code, drafted by Thomas Babington Macaulay, who presided over India's first law commission, was established in 1834 under the Charter Act of 1833.

No, the Indian Penal Code (IPC) is a separate criminal code that was drafted in 1860 and defines crimes and provides punishments for almost all types of criminal and actionable wrongs.

Thomas Babington Macaulay is known as the "Father of the Indian Penal Code," and it was drafted by the first Law Commission, which he chaired, to codify criminal laws in India.

IPC is the full form of the Indian Penal Code, which was drafted in 1860 and is India's official comprehensive criminal code covering all substantive aspects of criminal laws.

The Indian Penal Code is India's official comprehensive criminal code, divided into 23 chapters and 511 sections.
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