Act done by a person justified, or by mistake of fact believing himself justified, by law
Full Text
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.
Plain English Summary
This section protects persons from criminal liability for acts they are justified by law in doing, or which they believe in good faith (due to a mistake of fact) to be justified by law.
Key Legal Elements
- The act must be done by a person who is justified by law, or believes in good faith they are justified by law.
- The belief must be due to a mistake of fact and NOT a mistake of law.
- The belief must be held in good faith (with due care and attention).
Practical Note
This replaces IPC Section 79. It is similar to Section 14, but while Section 14 deals with being “bound by law” (duty), Section 17 deals with being “justified by law” (discretionary power or justification).
हिंदी पाठ
17. कानून द्वारा समर्थित, या तथ्य की भूल के कारण स्वयं को कानून द्वारा समर्थित मानने वाले व्यक्ति द्वारा किया गया कार्य।
कोई बात अपराध नहीं है, जो किसी ऐसे व्यक्ति द्वारा की जाए, जो उसे करने के लिए कानून द्वारा समर्थित (उचित) हो, या जो तथ्य की भूल के कारण (कानून की भूल के कारण नहीं) सद्भावपूर्वक विश्वास करता हो कि वह उसे करने के लिए कानून द्वारा समर्थित है।
दृष्टांत।
क, य को ऐसा कार्य करते हुए देखता है जो क को हत्या प्रतीत होता है। क, सद्भावपूर्वक किए गए अपने सर्वश्रेष्ठ निर्णय के अनुसार उस शक्ति का प्रयोग करते हुए जो कानून सभी व्यक्तियों को हत्यारों को रंगे हाथ पकड़ने के लिए देता है, य को पकड़ लेता है ताकि उसे उचित प्राधिकारियों के समक्ष लाया जा सके। क ने कोई अपराध नहीं किया है, भले ही बाद में यह पता चले कि य आत्मरक्षा में कार्य कर रहा था।