Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
BNS Section 4
Punishments
In one line
BNS Section 4 deals with punishments and replaces IPC 53.
Bare act text — BNS 4
4. Punishments.
The punishments to which offenders are liable under the provisions of this Sanhita are— (a) Death; (b) Imprisonment for life; (c) Imprisonment, which is of two descriptions, namely:—
(1) Rigorous, that is, with hard labour;
(2) Simple; (d) Forfeiture of property; (e) Fine; (f) Community Service.
What changed from the IPC
- IPC 53 → BNS 4: 'Community service' is added to punishments.
- IPC 53 → BNS 4: The definition of community service is not given in BNS, but the explanation in Section 23 of the BNSS defines it as the "work which the court may order a convert to perform as a form of punishment that benefits the community, for which he shall not be entitled to any remuneration".
Frequently asked
What was BNS Section 4 in the IPC?
BNS Section 4 (Punishments) replaces Section 53 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. IPC 53 is now BNS 4.
Still citing the IPC? Convert any old section in seconds, or keep the whole case — dates, clients and sections — in one diary.
Nearby BNS sections
- BNS 1 — Short title, commencement and application
- BNS 2 — Definitions
- BNS 3 — General explanations
- BNS 5 — Commutation of sentence
- BNS 6 — Fractions of terms of punishment
- BNS 7 — Sentence may be (in certain cases of imprisonment) wholly or partly rigorous or simple
- BNS 8 — Amount of fine, liability in default of payment of fine, etc
- BNS 9 — Limit of punishment of offence made up of several offences