Library/BNS/Section 31
Section 31Substantive

Communication made in good faith

Full Text

31. Communication made in good faith.

No communication made in good faith is an offence by reason of any harm to the person to whom it is made, if it is made for the benefit of that person.

Illustration.

A, a surgeon, in good faith, communicates to a patient his opinion that he cannot live. The patient dies in consequence of the shock. A has committed no offence, though he knew it to be likely that the communication might cause the patient’s death.

Plain English Summary

This section protects individuals from criminal liability for any harm caused by a communication made in good faith for the recipient’s benefit.

Key Legal Elements

  • The communication must be made in good faith.
  • The communication must be made for the benefit of the person to whom it is made.

Practical Note

This replaces IPC Section 93. A typical example is a doctor communicating a critical prognosis to a patient in good faith, which causes a fatal shock.

हिंदी पाठ

31. सद्भावपूर्वक दी गई संसूचना (कम्युनिकेशन)।

सद्भावपूर्वक दी गई कोई भी संसूचना उस अपहानि के कारण अपराध नहीं है जो उस व्यक्ति को पहुंचे जिसे वह दी गई है, यदि वह उस व्यक्ति के लाभ के लिए दी गई हो।

दृष्टांत।

क, एक शल्य चिकित्सक, सद्भावपूर्वक एक मरीज को अपनी राय बताता है कि वह जीवित नहीं रह सकता। मरीज की सदमे के कारण मृत्यु हो जाती है। क ने कोई अपराध नहीं किया है, भले ही वह जानता था कि इस संसूचना से मरीज की मृत्यु होना संभाव्य है।