Library/BNS/Section 103
Section 103PopularNon-BailablePenal

Punishment for murder

Full Text

(1) Whoever commits murder shall be punished with death or imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.

(2) When a group of five or more persons acting in concert commits murder on the ground of race, caste or community, sex, place of birth, language, personal belief or any other similar ground each member of such group shall be punished with death or with imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.

Plain English Summary

Provides the punishment for murder. Notably introduces specific punishments for mob lynching or concert killings by a group of five or more on discriminatory grounds.

Key Legal Elements

  • Commission of murder
  • Sentence can be death or life imprisonment
  • Mob lynching applies if five or more act in concert on grounds of identity (caste, community, sex, language, etc.)

Punishment

Death or imprisonment for life, and fine

Practical Note

Subsection (2) is a landmark addition in BNS to curb mob lynching, prescribing death or life imprisonment for every member of the mob acting on discriminatory grounds.

हिंदी पाठ

(1) जो कोई हत्या करेगा, वह मृत्युदण्ड या आजीवन कारावास से दण्डित किया जाएगा और जुर्माने के लिए भी दायी होगा।

(2) जब पाँच या अधिक व्यक्तियों का कोई समूह मिलकर नस्ल, जाति या समुदाय, लिंग, जन्म स्थान, भाषा, व्यक्तिगत विश्वास या किसी अन्य समान आधार पर हत्या कारित करता है, तो ऐसे समूह के प्रत्येक सदस्य को मृत्युदण्ड या आजीवन कारावास से दण्डित किया जाएगा, और वह जुर्माने के लिए भी दायी होगा।