CHAPTER III OF PUNISHMENTS

Section 53: Punishments

The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (repealed)

Repealed by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023) with effect from 1 July 2024.

The punishments to which offenders are liable under the provisions of this Code are—

First,—Death;

¹[Secondly.—Imprisonment for life;]

²* * * * *

Fourthly.—Imprisonment, which is of two descriptions, namely:—

(1) Rigorous, that is, with hard labour;

(2) Simple;

Fifthly.—Forfeiture of property;

Sixthly.—Fine.

Footnotes in the official text

1.Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, s. 117 and the Sch., for “Secondly.—Transportation” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956).
2.The words “Thirdly,--Penal servitude;" omitted by Act 17 of 1949, s. 2 (w.e.f. 6-4-1949).

Now in the BNS

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

53. Punishments.

BNS 4

Leading cases

Union of India v. V. Sriharan (2015)Life imprisonment means imprisonment for the rest of the convict's life; by majority, constitutional courts may substitute death with a term beyond 14 years or whole life without remission; Section 435(1) consultation means concurrence.

Questions on this section

3 questions in 6 of our papers cite Section 53.

Practise questions on Criminal Law