IPC §115 → BNS §55
Abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life.—if offence not committed. if act causing harm be done in consequence
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Comparison
115. Abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life.—if offence not committed.—Whoever abets the commission of an offence punishable with death or 1[imprisonment for life], shall, if that offence be not committed in consequence of the abetment, and no express provision is made by this Code for the punishment of such abetment, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine; if act causing harm be done in consequence.—and if any act for which the abettor is liable in consequence of the abetment, and which causes hurt to any person, is done, the abettor shall be liable to imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to fourteen years, and shall also be liable to fine. Illustration A instigates B to murder Z. The offence is not committed. If B had murdered Z, he would have been subject to the punishment of death or 1[imprisonment for life]. Therefore A is liable to imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and also to a fine; and if any hurt be done to Z in consequence of the abetment, he will be liable to imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years, and to fine.
Whoever abets the commission of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life, shall, if that offence be not committed in consequence of the abetment, and no express provision is made under this Sanhita for the punishment of such abetment, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine; and if any act for which the abettor is liable in consequence of the abetment, and which causes hurt to any person, is done, the abettor shall be liable to imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to fourteen years, and shall also be liable to fine.
What changedAI-inferred
IPC 115 and BNS 55 carry the same rule character-identically — when abetting a death-or-life offence not actually committed: 7-year ceiling, 14-year if hurt is caused; fine in both cases.
Old position
IPC 115 is concerned with Abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life.—if offence not committed. if act causing harm be done in consequence. Abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life
New position
BNS 55 preserves the framework with drafting modernisations as required by the new code. Topic: Abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life. Whoever abets the commission of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life, shall, if that offence be not committed in consequence of the abetment, and no express provision is made under this Sanhita for the punishment of
IPC 115 and BNS 55 carry the same rule character-identically — when abetting a death-or-life offence not actually committed: 7-year ceiling, 14-year if hurt is caused; fine in both cases.
Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)
IPC 115 and BNS 55 carry the same rule character-identically — when abetting a death-or-life offence not actually committed: 7-year ceiling, 14-year if hurt is caused; fine in both cases.
Transitional note (repeal & savings)
For matters initiated before 1 July 2024, IPC 115 continues to apply. For matters from that date forward, BNS 55 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 55 (Abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life). 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 §115 → BNS §55 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-06-14, https://newlaws.in/ipc/115.
Compiled using AI-assisted tools · Source-linked · Last updated 2026-05-01
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