Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
III · Section 17

Act done by a person justified, or by mistake of fact believing himself justified, by law

Synced on 04 Jul 2026Text as per India Code

Nothing is an offence which is done by any person who is justified by law, or who by reason of a mistake of fact and not by reason of a mistake of law in good faith, believes himself to be justified by law, in doing it.

Illustration.

A sees Z commit what appears to A to be a murder. A, in the exercise, to the best of his judgment exerted in good faith, of the power which the law gives to all persons of apprehending murderers in the fact, seizes Z, in order to bring Z before the proper authorities. A has committed no offence, though it may turn out that Z was acting in self-defence.

Judgments on Section 17