Abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life
What this section does
This section prescribes punishment for abetting an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life where the offence is not actually committed and no express punishment for such abetment is provided elsewhere in the Sanhita. The punishment is enhanced if any act done in consequence of the abetment causes hurt to any person.
AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).
Quick reference
- Punishment
- Imprisonment of either description up to 7 years and fine; if any act in consequence of the abetment causes hurt, imprisonment of either description up to 14 years and fine.
- Triable by
- Sessions Court
- Cognizable
- Depends
- Bailable
- Depends
- Compoundable
- No
Ingredients (what prosecution must prove)
- The accused abetted an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life
- The offence was not committed in consequence of the abetment
- No express provision for punishment of such abetment exists elsewhere in the Sanhita
- For enhanced punishment: an act done in consequence of the abetment caused hurt to any person
Practitioner note
Punishment escalates from 7 to 14 years where hurt is caused as a consequence of the abetment, even though the principal offence itself was not committed.
Derived from IPC s.115.
Read the official text
For the binding statutory text of BNS Section 55, refer to the Gazette of India or the India Code official website.
Why this matters
BNS Section 55 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.