CRIMINAL LAW

Table of Contents
CRIMINAL LAW........................................................................................................................... 1
INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................... 1
Historical evolution of criminal law............................................................................................1
Crime Nature and definition social & legal context .............................................................1
Definition of Crime....................................................................................................................... 2
What is Offence?..................................................................................................................4
Criminal law.......................................................................................................................... 5
Indian Criminal Law.............................................................................................................. 5
Ingredients to Crime.................................................................................................................6
The elements of crime are a series of components which must be presented in order for it to be
demonstrated that someone is guilty of a crime...........................................................................6
There are four chief element of Crime i.e.....................................................................................6

INTRODUCTION
Historical evolution of criminal law
Starting from Vedic age the law in India has evolved from religious directions, which
operate the human conduct between do and dont. It was not the law of crime but the
law of wrong, and more of religious prescriptions and philosophy which was shaped by
the concept of Dharma, or rules of right conduct. Punishment for wrong was more
popular than compensation, and it was the duty of the King to punish the offender.
During the time of Manu Criminal law was getting it shaped, Manu recognized crime,
justice, and punishment.
During Mugal period, administration of justice was regarded by the Muslim kings as a
religious duty; Quran was the first and the most important source of law and criminal law
was Islamic in nature, and Kazi were considered to be administrator of Criminal Justice,
who explain and clarify the law.

Britishers laid the foundation of Modern Indian Criminal Law. When the Britishers came
into India they adopted a different set of law which was based on British pattern, and it
was not uniform across India.

Crime Nature and definition social & legal context

What is Crime?
To obtain the definition of crime, we must closely analyze the co relation between crime
and law, crime and law is the intrinsic nature of any society, it is as old as society, in
fact it is the by product of society, when ever people organized into groups or unions
and set some basic rule to govern that groups or unions some kind of resistance or
violation of those rules or principle appear as a crime, and it seems to social protest,
and that group or union forced to develop some sort of rules or principle to cube that
unwanted resistance or violation.
There is no simple and universal commentary on Crime, it is dynamic in nature and
varies into geography. It is the Wish of the Society, or it always depend on the public
opinion, about what you can and cannot do, or more precisely, rules that forbid certain
conduct and then attach punishments for disobedience.
In general terms crime is defined as an act punishable by law as forbidden by statue
or injurious to the public welfare. An action or omission, which constitutes an offence,
and punishable by law. A crime is an illegal action or activity for which a person
punishes by law.
Thus A crime may, therefore, be an act of noncompliance to such a law forbidding or
commanding it. But then disobedience of all laws may not be a crime, for instance,
disobedience of civil laws or laws of inheritance or contracts. Therefore, a crime would
mean something more than a mere disobedience to a law, "it means an act which is
both forbidden by law and violating to the moral sentiments of the society." Thus robbery
or murder would be a crime, because they are revolting to the moral sentiments of the
society, but a disobedience of the revenue laws or the laws of contract would not
constitute a crime

Definition of Crime
According to Austin: A wrong which is pursued at the discretion of the injured party
and his representatives is a civil injury; a wrong which is pursued by the sovereign or
his subordinates is a crime.
Thus Austin, directly link crime to State, and proceeding initiated by State, where as in
civil wrong the state does not interfere until the injured party or any other party on its
behalf wish to initiate.
Stephen says a crime is a violation of a right considered in reference to the evil
tendency of such violation as regards the community at large.
Stephen also indicates the similar nature of crime violation of right against the
community at large.
Donald also admitted the same thing Crime is a social injury and an expression of
subjective opinion varying in time and place.
According to Keeton, a crime would seem to be any undesirable act which the State
find is most convenient to correct by the institution of proceedings for the infliction of a
penalty, instead of leaving the remedy to the discretion of some injured person.
Paton, the normal marks of a crime are the State has power to control the procedure,
to remit the penalty or to inflict the punishment
As a result it is very difficult to determine a universal definition of crime; Russell also
admitted that to define crime is a task which so far has not been satisfactorily
accomplished by any writer.
However the attributes of crime can be determined i.e.
Anti Social Act
Prohibited by Society or Sovereign
Violation attract punishment

V o ila t io n P o in t o f

P u n is h m e n t

An action or omission that is deemed injurious to the public welfare or to the

interests of the state and that is legally prohibited.

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In T.K. Goptal Vs. State of Karnataka, AIR2000 SC1669 (1673,1674). The Apex Court Held:
Crime can be defined as an act that subjects the doer to legal
punishment. It may also be defined as the commission of an act
specifically forbidden by law; it may be an offence against morality or
social order.

What is Law?
The system of rules or principle which a particular country or society define as
regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of
penalties. Rule of conduct, which is uniform for all.
In Board of Mining Examination Vs. Ramjee, AIR 1977 SC 965 (967), The
Apex Court Held:
Law is meant to serve the living and does not beat its abstract wings in
the jural void. Its functional fulfillment as social engineering depends
on its sensitized response to situation, subject-matter and the complex
of realities which require ordered control. A holistic understanding is
simple justice to meaning of all legislation.

Thus law is the command for a particular course of conduct. The command may be of a
sovereign or of political superiors to the political inferiors; or it may be the command of a
legally constituted body or a legislation emanating from a duly constituted legislature to
all the members of the society

What is Offence?
Offence means a breach of a law or rule; an illegal act.
In P.Ramanath Aiyars Advance law Lexicon, 3rd Edn.,2005 page 3302,
offence defined as

The word offence is not defined in the Act. According to Concise

Oxford English Dictionary, it means, an act or instance offending.
Offend means,commit an illegal act and illegal means, contrary to
forbidden by law According to New Shorter Oxford English Dictionary,
an offence of breach of law, rules, duty, propriety, etiquette, and illegal
act, a transgression, sin, wrong, misdemeanor, misdeed, fault, Thus,
an offence only means the commission of an act contrary to or
forbidden by law. It is not confined to the commission of a crime along.
It is an act committed against law or omitted where the law requires it
and punishable by it. In this legal signification, an offence is the
transgression of a law; a breach of the laws established for the
protection of the public as distinguished from an infringement of mere
private right a punishable violation of law, a crime the doing that which
a penal law forbids to be done or omitting to do what it commands
In Depot Manager, Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation
V. Mohd, Yousul Miya, (1997)2 SCC 699, The Apex Court Held:
Generally implies infringement of a public duty, as distinguished from
mere private right punishable under criminal law.
In Brown v. Allweather Mechanical Co. (1954 2QB 443), it was held:
a failure to do something prescribed by a statue may be described as
an offence, though no criminal sanction is imposed but merely a
pecuniary sanction recoverable as civil debt,

Commission of
offences

Desire is constructed to will and this will forms motive and this motive forms
intention and intention forms attempt and attempts form commission of offence.

Criminal law
Criminal law is the sets of law that relates to crime. It regulates social conduct and
ensures health, safety, and moral welfare of people. It includes the punishment of
people who violate these laws. Criminal law is a public Law, rest are private law.
In Kartar Sing Vs. State of Punjab, (1994)3, SCC 569 (755) The Apex
Court Held:

Criminal law is any Act or Rule dealing with crime.

Object of Criminal Law

The primary intent of criminal law is to uphold law and order in the society and to protect
the life and liberty of people. Therefore the penal law cannot afford to be weak,
ambiguous or ineffective. Nor can it be harsh and arbitrary in its impact. The application
of criminal law has to be uniform regardless of any discrimination on grounds of class,
caste, religion, sex or creed etc. of either the criminal or the victim.

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Indian Criminal Law

Indian Criminal Laws are divided into two parts one general principle of criminal liability
and criminal procedure for preventing crime and promoting justice, and one more act to
assist these two Acts:
i.
ii.
iii.

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Code of Criminal Procedure 1973
Indian Evidence Act, 1872

Apart from these three major acts there are other special enactment passed by
Lays down
ways and means by which substantive law can be enforced
Parliament
ofthe
India.

Procedural law

Code of Criminal Procedure 1973

Indian Criminal Law

Indian Evidence Act, 1872
Substantive Law
Indian Penal Code, 1860

Establish the rights and obligations of individuals, what individuals may or may not do

Ingredients to Crime
The elements of crime are a series of components which must be presented in order for
it to be demonstrated that someone is guilty of a crime.
There are four chief element of Crime i.e.
Sr. Ingredient
No
s
1
Mens rea

Meaning
Mental
element

Actus reus

Action

Human
being

Injury

Human
being must
have a
body not a
Animal,
and
Artificial
person
Hurt /
Damage

Qualification

Degree

Voluntary criminal intent or evil

intention

An over act of illegal

commission or omission
Human being under a legal
obligation to act in a particular
way and a fit subject for the
infliction of appropriate
punishment

Prime / essential
Intention
Knowledge
Negligence
Recklessness
Secondary

an injury to another human

being or to society at large by
such an act

Consequence
Mind
Body
Reputation
Property

Prime

Thus the four elements that go to constitute a crime are as follows:

1. a human being under a legal obligation to act in a particular way and a fit
subject for the infliction of appropriate punishment
2. an evil intent or mens rea on the part of such human being
3. actus reus, i.e., act committed or omitted in furtherance of such an intent; and
4. an injury to another human being or to society at large by such an act.

Mens Rea- Mental element in crime. Intention mens rea means a mental state, in which
a person deliberately violates a law. Thus mens rea means intention to do the prohibited

act. No act per se (itself) is criminal, the act becomes a crime only when it is done with a
guilt mind. It signifies the mental element necessary to convict for any crime. Mens rea
is not the same thing as motive. The mens rea refers to the intent with on which the
criminal act happened. On the other hand, the motive refers to the reason of criminal
act.
In Director of Enforcement v. M/s MCTM Corpn. Pvt.Ltd AIR
1996 SC 1100(1103), the Apex Court held:
Mens rea is a state of mind. Under the criminal law, mens
rea is considered as the guilty intention and unless it is
found that the accused had the guilty intention to
commit the crime he cannot be held guilty of
committing the crime.

Illustration.
A blacksmith is seized by a gang of robbers and he forced to break the doors
of a house for robbery to enter, and the robbers committed a robber.
Q- Whether the Act is voluntary or not.
A- No
Q- Whether the accused have foresight of the consequences.
A-Yes
Conclusion- If there would be two Yes in the above citation then only
it becomes crimes.
Illustration:
A while shooting at a tiger kills B, who was behind the bush , cancelled
(hidden) from his view.
- Act is voluntarily.
- Accused have foresight of the consequences.
- Conclusion: No crime
ExampleMens ReaMurder - Intention to Kill.
Rape - Intention to sexual pleasure without the consent of other.

Human Being

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Injury
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Voluntary

Conduct: Result but not prohibition by law (than no crime) i.e. Solders kills the
enemy.
Exception of Mens rea: Offence against state, police, nuisance, and stick liability
etc Mens rea is not require.
Degree of Mens Rea

Intention
Knowledge
Negligence
Recklessness
Intention Is a basic rule. Intention is to bring about a desired act. An intended to commit
an illegal act
Exm Intention to sustain injury to other like to Kill (intention to caused death).
Presumption of Intention- Natural and probable consequences should be presumed.
Consent- Intention to have sexual pleasure from a person without her consent.
In Allrd v. Selfridge, it was held
Intention to do an act, which is made penal by statute or by
common law.
Knowledge Direct appeal to your senses. Here the probability is very high (against to
commit the act against Law).

Exp to purchase a stolen good. Theft-To taking possession without the consent of the
owner.
Motives- Intention and motives is two different things in a crime. Motive may be to get
anything, Intention to kill the person. Motive may be good or bad, but intention is bad
than it becomes crime. Motive leads to intention, and ulterior intention is motive. In fixing
criminal liability motive may be irrelevant, but intention is maintain or main element.
Recklessness (irresponsibility)-

Basic principle of fixing a criminal liability. Is the

combination of : Foresight and Indifference. Doing something without the knowledge

but the foresight.
Mans Rea In the IPC?
The word Mens Rea is not defined in the IPC, but to incorporate the doctrine some
specific word is being used. The general principle of mens rea has defined in IPC in two
ways:
1. Qualifying Words dishonestly, fraudulently, voluntarily, intentionally,
knowingly
2. General Exceptions under Chapter IV of IPS like accident, infancy, insanity,
intoxication ext.
Examples:
A is at work with a hatchet; the head flays of and kill a person accidently.
A is not liable for a murder, because some exception are granted under chapter IV of
IPC.
Examples:
Infancy- A child below age 7 kill a person.
A is not liable for a murder, because some exception are granted under chapter IV of
IPC.
Stick Liability. - It is possible there is no Mans Rea, but you are liable under IPC,
because a crime without Mans Rea is a Stick Liability, or When the definition does not
include mens rea, it means that the liability is strict.
Example Section 292 Selling an obstinate literature is a crime.

Certain Examples of doctrine of mens rea in IPC

Wrongful gain and Wrongful Loss- Section 23 IPC.
Wrongful gain
Wrongful gain is gain by unlawful means of property to which the person gaining
is not legally entitled.
Ingredient:
1. Gain of some property.
2. By unlawful means.
3. Not legally entitled.
Wrongful lost
Wrongful loss is the loss by unlawful means of property to which the person losing it is
legally entitled.
Ingredient:
1. Loss of some property
2. Legally entitled.
3. Unlawful means.
Ill:
A is the owner of a car. The person B steal the car, this is the wrongful gain for B, and
wrongful lost to A.
Dishonestly- Section 24 IPC
Whoever does anything with the intention of causing wrongful gain to one person
or wrongful loss to another person is said to do that thing dishonestly.
Ingredient
1. An act ( by a person)
2. Intention to cause wrongful gain.
Illu:
A finds a ring belonging to Z on a table in the house while Z occupies where ring is in
the possession of Z, if A takes the ring out of Z possession without Z consent with
intention to our with intention of causing wrongful gaining to A and to cause wrongful
loss to Z, this is dishonesty.

Fraudulently Section 25 IPC

A person is said to do a thing fraudulently if he does that thing with intent to
defraud but not otherwise.
-to get something from somebody.
A financial cause cab be called is fraud
Illustration:
A steal food to feed the starving child.
Motive- To save the life of a child- God.
Intention To steal some food-Bad
1. Illustration
- A man steel a food in order to feed a starving child.
Intention- To Save a Chile.
Motive- To Steel
2. Illustration
- A throws a ball from a high tower the boy dies
3. Illustration
- B cuts off A head.
4. C abundant two months old child in a forest the child dies.
What is Presumption?
Natural and probably consequences should be performed.
What is the difference between Intention & Motives
Intention: Is to bring about a desired act.
Motive: Is the ulterior (Hidden) intention.
Illustration
M Nanawaty wife had illicit relation with Prem Ahuja, Nanawati fired at Prem Ahuja, and
he died.
What is the Motive- To Take the revenge.
What is the Intention- To Kill Prem Ahuja.

Illustration:
An executioner (who gives the death sentence) enjoys putting a convicted to death,
because of spite against him.
Intention to Kill- Is irrelevant or it is Illegal.
Motive is bad.
Ill:
A Steal some food from a shop to feed a starving child.
Motive: To save the life of a child
Intention: To Steal.
INTENTION AND KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge- An direct appeal to your senses.
IllA Sets a house on fire in an inhabited locality to facilitate a robbery and there by caused
death of several persons.
Intention: to facilitated in the robbery.
Exp- The intention is not clear in this case but the intention is referred from his
knowledge.
Jud- he is liable for the death of several people because his intention can be inferred
from his knowledge.
IllA attracted by a wild animal he calls out to B to shoot the wild animal in order to save
him, A fires and caused death of A, .
Jud- B is not the held liable, because we cannot infer from his knowledge but the
consent was there.
REASON TO BELIVE.
Section 26 IPCA person is said to have "reason to believe" a thing, if he has sufficient cause
to believe that thing but not otherwise.

IllA comes to B at night under suspicious circumstances to sell a valuable watch for Rs
100 only and A buys it.
Recklessness (irresponsibility)- Basic principle of fixing a criminal liability. Is the
combination of : Foresight and Indifference. DOING SOMETHING WITHOUT THE
KNOWLEDGE BUT THE FORESIGHT.

IllA throws a stone over a crow.

Jud- Crime committed here is- hurt.
Mens Rea- is Recklessness.
Components of Recklessness (per se) is a crime
1. Foresight. No direct appeal to your senses, and the probability of (doing
something against law is very low.). It is a direct application to believe, is an
application of recklessness.
2. Indifference.

Illustration:
A drive his cars at a furious speed throw a narrow road, it is a clear case of indifference.
Recklessness:
Case ref: Hudson V/s Vinay- establish first time that recklessness is an activity of
mental indifference to obvious risks.
NEGLIGENCE (per se) is not an crime.
Absence of proper care and precautions, it is not a basic element in IPC, it is not an
offence.
Illi-

Doing a quarrel with his wife A in a sheer anger picks up a paper weight and throw it out
of a window, which facture the skull of a passer nearby.
JudHere office is Hurt.
Mens Rea- Want of proper care and precaution.
STATE OF MIN IN CRIME COMPONENT
COMPONENT
CRIME
Intention
Knowledge
Recklessness
Negligence
mind.

DEGREE OR GRAVITY OF
High degree of Mind.
Very low degree of

Actus Reus- An Act which is prohibited by Law. It is the physical part of a crime.
Actus non facit reum, nisi mens sit rea An act does not make a person legally liable
unless the mind is legally blameworthy'.
Actus reus, sometimes called the external element or the objective element of a crime, is
the Latin term for the "guilty act". When proved beyond a reasonable doubt in
combination with the mens rea,.
Actus Reus: Comprises the following:
1. Human Conduct or an Activity.
2. The Result of the Act.
3. Prohibition by Law.
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Illustration: A shoots at B using a rifle intentionally and B dies.

Other notes of mine can be seen by clicking below links.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/40130303/Indian-Penal-Code-llbi-Year