Limit of punishment of offence made up of several offences
What this section does
This section prevents double punishment where an offence is composed of parts that are themselves offences, or where an act falls under multiple offence definitions. An offender cannot be punished more severely than the maximum for any single one of the constituent offences, unless the statute expressly provides otherwise.
AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).
Practitioner note
This section embodies the principle against double jeopardy at the sentencing stage. It does not bar conviction for multiple offences but limits the aggregate punishment to the maximum for the most serious single offence among those constituted by the same act or series of acts.
Derived from IPC s.71.
Read the official text
For the binding statutory text of BNS Section 9, refer to the Gazette of India or the India Code official website.
Why this matters
BNS Section 9 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.