Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
BNS Section 17
Act done by a person justified, or by mistake of fact believing himself justified, by law
In one line
BNS Section 17 deals with act done by a person justified, or by mistake of fact believing himself justified, by law and replaces IPC 79.
Bare act text — BNS 17
17. 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 murderers in the fact, 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.
Frequently asked
What was BNS Section 17 in the IPC?
BNS Section 17 (Act done by a person justified, or by mistake of fact believing himself justified, by law) replaces Section 79 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. IPC 79 is now BNS 17.
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Nearby BNS sections
- BNS 12 — Limit of solitary confinement
- BNS 13 — Enhanced punishment for certain offences after previous conviction
- BNS 14 — Act done by a person bound, or by mistake of fact believing himself bound, by law
- BNS 15 — Act of Judge when acting judicially
- BNS 16 — Act done pursuant to judgment or order of Court
- BNS 18 — Accident in doing a lawful act
- BNS 19 — Act likely to cause harm, but done without criminal intent, and to prevent other harm
- BNS 20 — Act of a child under seven years of age
- BNS 21 — Act of a child above seven and under twelve years of age of immature understanding
- BNS 22 — Act of a person of unsound mind