9 - INDIAN PENAL CODE (IPC) SECTIONS of importance

SECTIONS OF IPC important in FORENSIC MEDICINE

1. SECTION : 87 IPC : Act not intended and not known to be likely to cause death or grievous hurt, done by consent. Nothing which is not intended to cause death, or grievous hurt, and which is not known by the doer to be likely to cause death or grievous hurt, is an offence by reason of any harm which it may cause, or be intended by the doer to cause, to any person, above eighteen years of age, who has given consent, whether express or implied, to suffer that harm; or by reason of any harm which it may be known by the doer to be likely to cause to any such person who has consented to take the risk of that harm.
2. SECTION 92 IPC : Act done in good faith for benefit of a person without consent is not punishable. Nothing is an offence by reason of any harm which it may cause to a person for whose benefit it is done in good faith, even without that person's consent, if the circumstances are such that it is impossible for that person to signify consent, or if that person is incapable of giving consent, and has no guardian or other person in lawful charge of him from whom it is possible to obtain consent in time for the thing to be done with benefit:
3. SECTION 191 IPC : perjury – it means giving willful false evidence by a witness while under oath , the witness is liable to be prosecuted for perjury and the imprisonment may extend upto 7 years.
4. SECTION 299 IPC : whoever causes death by doing an act with the intention of causing death or with the intention of causing such bodily injury as is likely to cause death or with knowledge that he is likely by such act to cause death , commits the offence of culpable homicide.
5. SECTION 302 IPC : punishment for murder – death/life + fine .
6. SECTION 304 IPC : punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder – life/ 10 years + fine .
7. SECTION 304 A IPC : causing death by negligence – 2 years / fine or both .
8. SECTION 304 B IPC : dowry death . in case of death of a married woman within 7 years of marriage ,due to other than natural causes ,with history of cruelty or harassment prior to death . the charge is framed against the accused under section 304 B IPC.
9. SECTION 320 IPC : definition of grievous hurt
10. SECTION 321 IPC : voluntarily causing hurt .
11. SECTION 325 IPC : grievous hurt is punishable under section 325 IPC .
12. SECTION 338 IPC : the act done rashly and negligently causing minor offence or grievous hurt will be charged under section 338 IPC.
13. SECTION 376 IPC : custodial rape is dealt with under section 376 IPC .
14. SECTION 402 IPC : assembly for purpose of committing decoity .
15. SECTION 497 IPC : adultery is punishable under this section .

16. SECTION 54 Cr.P.C : an arrested person can request a magistrate for medical examination of his body by a registered medical practitioner as per the following provision in the code of criminal procedure .
17. SECTION 2 Cr.P.C : cognizable offence or cognizable case is a case in which a police officer may , in accordance with the first schedule or under any other law for the time being in force, arrest without warrant .