Punishment for causing death or persistent vegetative state of victim
Full Text
66. Whoever, commits an offence punishable under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 64 and in the course of such commission inflicts an injury which causes the death of the woman or causes the woman to be in a persistent vegetative state, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than twenty years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person's natural life, or with death.
Plain English Summary
Prescribes punishment (minimum 20 years rigorous imprisonment up to life meaning remainder of natural life, or death) for causing death or a persistent vegetative state of a woman during the commission of rape.
Key Legal Elements
- Commission of rape under sub-section (1) or (2) of Section 64.
- Infliction of injury in the course of such commission.
- The injury causes the death of the woman, or causes her to be in a persistent vegetative state.
Punishment
Rigorous imprisonment of 20 years to life (remainder of natural life) or death, along with fine.
Practical Note
Section 66 BNS replaces Section 376A of the IPC. It applies when the offender, during the commission of rape, inflicts injuries that result in the death of the victim or cause her to enter a persistent vegetative state (PVS). PVS represents a condition of wakeful unresponsiveness where cognitive function is lost.
हिंदी पाठ
66. जो कोई, धारा 64 की उपधारा (1) या उपधारा (2) के अधीन दंडनीय अपराध करेगा और ऐसे अपराध के दौरान ऐसी चोट पहुंचाएगा जिससे महिला की मृत्यु हो जाती है या महिला स्थायी अचेतन/वनस्पति अवस्था (persistent vegetative state) में चली जाती है, तो उसे कठिन कारावास से दंडित किया जाएगा, जिसकी अवधि बीस वर्ष से कम नहीं होगी, किंतु जो आजीवन कारावास, जिससे उस व्यक्ति के शेष प्राकृत जीवनकाल का कारावास अभिप्रेत है, तक हो सकेगी, या मृत्युदंड से दंडित किया जाएगा।