Punishment for attempt to commit an offence
Full Text
Whoever attempts to commit any offence punishable under this Act or to cause such an offence to be committed, and in such attempt, does any act towards the commission of the offence, shall 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 fine or with both.
Plain English Summary
Penalizes attempts to commit any POCSO offence with imprisonment up to one-half of life imprisonment or one-half of the maximum term prescribed for the offence, or fine, or both.
Key Legal Elements
- Intention or attempt to commit a POCSO offence
- Commission of an overt act towards the execution of the offence
- Sentence of up to half of life imprisonment or half of longest term provided
- Liability to fine or both imprisonment and fine
Punishment
Up to one-half of life imprisonment or one-half of longest term, or fine, or both
Practical Note
Distinguishing between mere "preparation" and "attempt" (an overt act directly moving towards commission) is the key legal dispute in Section 18 trials. For attempt to commit penetrative assault, sentence can extend up to half of life imprisonment.
हिंदी पाठ
जो कोई इस अधिनियम के अधीन दंडनीय किसी अपराध को करने का या ऐसा अपराध करवाए जाने का प्रयत्न करेगा और ऐसे प्रयत्न में अपराध के किए जाने की दिशा में कोई कार्य करेगा, वह उस अपराध के लिए उपबंधित किसी भांति के कारावास से, ऐसी अवधि के लिए जो आजीवन कारावास के आधे तक अथवा, यथास्थिति, उस अपराध के लिए उपबंधित कारावास की दीर्घतम अवधि के आधे तक हो सकेगी, या जुर्माने से, या दोनों से, दंडित किया जाएगा।