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CHAPTER III GENERAL EXCEPTIONS

Section 14: Act done by a person bound, or by mistake of fact believing himself bound, by law

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Nothing is an offence which is done by a person who is, or who by reason of a mistake of fact and not by reason of a mistake of law in good faith believes himself to be, bound by law to do it.

Illustrations.

(a) A, a soldier, fires on a mob by the order of his superior officer, in conformity with the commands of the law. A has committed no offence.

(b) A, an officer of a Court, being ordered by that Court to arrest Y, and, after due enquiry, believing Z to be Y, arrests Z. A has committed no offence.

Corresponding IPC provision

As given in the correspondence table of the National Crime Records Bureau (Ministry of Home Affairs). Read both texts before relying on it. NCRB table

1476. Act done by a person bound, or by mistake of fact believing himself bound, by law.

Questions on this section

6 questions in 11 of our papers cite Section 14. Try these from the free papers:

  1. 1. "Ignorantia juris non excusat" means:

  2. 2. Under Sections 14 and 17 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, a person who is not in fact bound or justified by law is protected if he in good faith believes himself to be so bound or justified by reason of:

Practise questions on Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita