IPC Indian Penal Code EduGuide 4.3.1

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The Indian Penal Code (IPC) is the main criminal code of India, designed to comprehensively cover all substantive aspects of criminal law. Drafted in 1860 based on the recommendations of the first law commission of India established in 1834 under the Charter Act of 1833, it came into force during the early British Raj period in 1862. The Code has undergone several amendments over the years and is now supplemented by other criminal provisions.

Following the partition of the British Indian Empire, the Indian Penal Code became the legal foundation for successor states like the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan, where it operates as the Pakistan Penal Code independently. The Ranbir Penal Code (RPC) enforced in Jammu and Kashmir also draws from this Code. Bangladesh maintained its use post-separation from Pakistan. Additionally, the British colonial authorities in Burma, Ceylon (modern Sri Lanka), the Straits Settlements (now part of Malaysia), Singapore, and Brunei adopted this Code as the basis for their criminal laws.

The Act's primary goal is to establish a general penal code for India. Although it does not repeal pre-existing penal laws upon implementation, the Code aims to integrate all relevant legislation on the subject while acknowledging the possibility of exclusions. Despite its comprehensiveness on declared matters, various statutes have since supplemented it to address additional offenses.

The Indian Penal Code of 1860 consists of twenty-three chapters divided into five hundred and eleven sections. Starting with an introduction, comprehensive explanations, exceptions, and an extensive coverage of offenses, the Code remains a cornerstone of India's legal framework.

Feel free to access this valuable resource for a deeper understanding of Indian criminal law.