Mens Rea and Criminal Liability under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 - A Doctrinal Analysis

The requirement of a guilty mind remains the organising principle of Indian criminal liability under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. The Sanhita keeps the graded scale of intention, knowledge and negligence, retains the general exceptions that excuse the blameless, and leaves the doctrine of strict liability to the exceptional case. Its new offences, however, test this structure and call for careful drafting and strict judicial scrutiny. If the mental element is read faithfully, the Sanhita can combine effective prevention of serious crime with the protection of the accused that a fair penal system demands.  

[1]  Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Act No. 45 of 2023, India. [2]  Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, Act No. 46 of 2023, India. [3]  Indian Penal Code, 1860, Act No. 45 of 1860, India (repealed). [4]  Woolmington v. DPP, [1935] A.C. 462 (H.L.). [5]  G. Williams, Criminal Law: The General Part, 2nd ed. London, U.K.: Stevens & Sons, 1961. [6]  R. v. Cunningham, [1957] 2 Q.B. 396 (C.C.A.). [7]  R. v. Woollin, [1999] 1 A.C. 82 (H.L.). [8]  Virsa Singh v. State of Punjab, AIR 1958 SC 465. [9]  K.M. Nanavati v. State of Maharashtra, AIR 1962 SC 605. [10] Bachan Singh v. State of Punjab, (1980) 2 SCC 684.