Attempts to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment
Full Text
62. Whoever attempts to commit an offence punishable by this Sanhita with imprisonment for life or imprisonment, or to cause such an offence to be committed, and in such attempt does any act towards the commission of the offence, shall, where no express provision is made by this Sanhita for the punishment of such attempt, be punished with imprisonment of any description provided for the offence, for a term which may extend to one-half of the imprisonment for life or, as the case may be, one-half of the longest term of imprisonment provided for that offence, or with such fine as is provided for the offence, or with both.
Illustrations.
(a) A makes an attempt to steal some jewels by breaking open a box, and finds after so opening the box, that there is no jewel in it. He has done an act towards the commission of theft, and therefore is guilty under this section.
(b) A makes an attempt to pick the pocket of Z by thrusting his hand into Z’s pocket. A fails in the attempt in consequence of Z’s having nothing in his pocket. A is guilty under this section.
Plain English Summary
Defines general punishment for attempting offenses where no specific attempt penalty is provided. Specifies that attempts are punishable by up to half of the maximum term (including life) of the target offense, a fine, or both.
Key Legal Elements
- Intention or attempt to commit an offense punishable by life imprisonment or other imprisonment.
- An act done towards the commission of that offense (crossing the line from preparation to attempt).
- No express provision for the punishment of such attempt exists in the Sanhita.
Punishment
Up to one-half of the maximum imprisonment (including life imprisonment) provided for the target offense, or with fine, or both.
Practical Note
This is a residuary section for criminal attempts. It applies only when no express provision is made in the BNS for the attempt to commit that specific offense (e.g., attempt to murder has a specific section BNS 109, so Section 62 does not apply there). The prosecution must prove that the accused went beyond mere preparation and did an act towards the actual commission of the offense.
हिंदी पाठ
62. जो कोई इस संहिता द्वारा आजीवन कारावास से या कारावास से दण्डनीय अपराध करने का, या ऐसा अपराध कारित किए जाने का प्रयत्न करेगा, और ऐसे प्रयत्न में अपराध करने की दिशा में कोई कार्य करेगा, जहां कि ऐसे प्रयत्न के दण्ड के लिए कोई अभिव्यक्त उपबन्ध इस संहिता द्वारा नहीं किया गया है, वहां वह उस अपराध के लिए उपबन्धित किसी भांति के कारावास से उस अवधि के लिए, जो, यथास्थिति, आजीवन कारावास से आधे तक की या उस अपराध के लिए उपबन्धित दीर्घतम अवधि के आधे तक की हो सकेगी, या ऐसे जुर्माने से, जो उस अपराध के लिए उपबन्धित है, या दोनों से, दण्डित किया जाएगा।
दृष्टांत—
(क) 'क', एक सन्दूक तोड़कर खोलता है और उसमें से कुछ आभूषण चुराने का प्रयत्न करता है। सन्दूक इस प्रकार खोलने के पश्चात् उसे ज्ञात होता है कि उसमें कोई आभूषण नहीं है। उसने चोरी करने की दिशा में कार्य किया है, और इसलिए, वह इस धारा के अधीन दोषी है।
(ख) 'क', 'य' की जेब में हाथ डालकर 'य' की जेब से चुराने का प्रयत्न करता है। 'य' की जेब में कुछ न होने के परिणामस्वरूप 'क' अपने प्रयत्न में असफल रहता है। 'क' इस धारा के अधीन दोषी है।