Punishments in INDIAN PENAL CODE

                              PUNISHMENT

1. Death:-

A death sentence is the harshest of punishments provided in the IPC, which involves the

judicial killing or taking the life of the accused as a form of punishment. The Supreme Court has

ruled that death sentence ought to be imposed only in the ‘rarest of rate cases’.

The IPC provides for capital punishment for the following offences:

a) Murder

(b) Dacoity with Murder.

(c) Waging War against the Government of India.

(d) Abetting mutiny actually committed.

(e) Giving or fabricating false evidence upon which an innocent person suffers death

(f) Abetment of a suicide by a minor or insane person;

(g) Attempted murder by a life convict.

The capital punishment is awarded only in two categories of offences, namely treason and murder.

In either of the cases, when the court decides that death penalty is the appropriate sentence to be

imposed in the light of the gravity of matter and consequences of the offence committed and the

absence of mitigating factors

2. Life Imprisonment:-

Imprisonment for life meant rigorous imprisonment, that is, till the last breath of the convict.

3. Imprisonment:- Imprisonment which is of two descriptions namely –

(i) Rigorous Imprisonment, that is hard labour;

(ii) Simple Imprisonment

4. Forfeiture of property:-

Forfeiture is the divestiture of specific property without compensation in consequence of some default

or act forbidden by law. The Courts may order for forfeiture of property of the accused in certain

occasions.

5. Fine:-

Fine is forfeiture of money by way of penalty. It should be imposed individually and not collectively.

When court sentences an accused for a punishment, which includes a fine amount, it can specify that in

the event the convict does not pay the fine amount, he would have to suffer imprisonment for a further

period as indicated by the court, which is generally referred to as default sentence.