BNS §32
Act to which a person is compelled by threats
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Comparison
94. Act to which a person is compelled by threats.—Except murder, and offences against the State punishable with death, nothing is an offence which is done by a person who is compelled to do it by threats, which, at the time of doing it, reasonably cause the apprehension that instant death to that person will otherwise be the consequence: Provided the person doing the act did not of his own accord, or from a reasonable apprehension of harm to himself short of instant death, place himself in the situation by which he became subject to such constraint. Explanation 1.—A person who, of his own accord, or by reason of a threat of being beaten, joins a gang of dacoits, knowing their character, is not entitled to the benefit of this exception, on the ground of his having been compelled by his associates to do anything that is an offence by law. Explanation 2.—A person seized by a gang of dacoits, and forced, by threat of instant death, to do a thing which is an offence by law; for example, a smith compelled to take his tools and to force the door of a house for the dacoits to enter and plunder it, is entitled to the benefit of this exception.
Except murder, and offences against the State punishable with death, nothing is an offence which is done by a person who is compelled to do it by threats, which, at the time of doing it, reasonably cause the apprehension that instant death to that person will otherwise be the consequence:
Provided that the person doing the act did not of his own accord, or from a reasonable apprehension of harm to himself short of instant death, place himself in the situation by which he became subject to such constraint.
What changedAI-inferred
IPC 94 and BNS 32 carry the same duress (compulsion-by-threats) defence character-identically. Murder and offences against the State punishable with death are excluded; both Explanations (gang-of-dacoits and forced-smith) are preserved.
Old position
IPC 94 is concerned with Act to which a person is compelled by threats. Act to which a person is compelled by threats
New position
BNS 32 preserves the framework with drafting modernisations as required by the new code. Topic: Act to which a person is compelled by threats. Except murder, and offences against the State punishable with death, nothing is an offence which is done by a person who is compelled to do it by threats, which, at the time of doing it, reasonably cause the apprehension that instant death
IPC 94 and BNS 32 carry the same duress (compulsion-by-threats) defence character-identically. Murder and offences against the State punishable with death are excluded; both Explanations (gang-of-dacoits and forced-smith) are preserved.
Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)
IPC 94 and BNS 32 carry the same duress (compulsion-by-threats) defence character-identically. Murder and offences against the State punishable with death are excluded; both Explanations (gang-of-dacoits and forced-smith) are preserved.
Transitional note (repeal & savings)
For matters initiated before 1 July 2024, IPC 94 continues to apply. For matters from that date forward, BNS 32 applies. The transition is governed by the repeal-and-savings clause in the new code (BNS 358 / BNSS 531 / BSA 170 as the case may be); pending proceedings under the old code carry forward unaffected.
Frequently asked
BNS 32 (Act to which a person is compelled by threats). The relationship is classified as substantively_same — see the change-note above for the textual delta.
Sources
- India Code — Indian Penal Code, 1860
- Gazette of India — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Cite this page
Newlaws.in, IPC §94 → BNS §32 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-06-15, https://newlaws.in/bns/32.
Compiled using AI-assisted tools · Source-linked · Last updated 2026-05-01
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