Punishments
What this section does
This section enumerates the types of punishments that may be imposed under the Sanhita. The prescribed punishments are death, imprisonment for life, rigorous or simple imprisonment, forfeiture of property, fine, and community service. Community service is a new addition not present in the IPC.
AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).
Practitioner note
Community service is introduced as a distinct punishment for the first time in Indian criminal law under this Sanhita. Transportation (deportation) as a punishment, which existed under IPC s.53, has been removed.
Derived from IPC s.53.
Read the official text
For the binding statutory text of BNS Section 4, refer to the Gazette of India or the India Code official website.
Why this matters
BNS Section 4 forms part of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita which replaced the Indian Penal Code 1860 on 1 July 2024. Any new filing, FIR, charge sheet, or bail application made on or after that date should cite the new section number. References to the old act in legacy documents remain valid for matters that arose before the changeover.