Forensic Medicine · Forensic Psychiatry

Criminal Responsibility & Section 84 IPC

1 min read · Verified by professors

General Principle

A person is criminally responsible only if he possesses:

  1. Understanding of the nature of the act, and
  2. Knowledge that the act is wrong or contrary to law.

Section 84 IPC — Act of a Person of Unsound Mind

"Nothing is an offence which is done by a person who, at the time of doing it, by reason of unsoundness of mind, is incapable of knowing: the nature of the act, or that what he is doing is either wrong or contrary to law."

Essential Requirements

At the time of the act, the accused must be incapable of knowing:

  1. The nature of the act, or
  2. That the act is wrong, or
  3. That the act is contrary to law.