Introduction of BNS Section 24
BNS Section 24 talks about when a person commits a crime that needs special intent or knowledge while they are drunk or high. If they were intoxicated because someone made them that way without their consent, they are not held responsible. Otherwise, they are treated as if they were sober.
What is section 24 of BNS ?
BNS Section 24 says that if a person commits an act needing special intent or knowledge while intoxicated, they are judged as if they were sober. If they were made intoxicated without their consent, this rule doesn’t apply.

BNS Section 24 in Simple Points
Special Intent Needed: This law applies only to actions that require specific intent or knowledge.
Treated as Sober: If someone is drunk or high, the law treats them as if they are sober unless they were intoxicated without consent.
Forced Intoxication: If someone was made drunk or high without their consent, the law protects them and does not assume they were sober.
Fair Judgment: The law ensures people are judged fairly, considering whether they had the required intent or knowledge.
Not for All Crimes: This law only applies to crimes where specific intent or knowledge is necessary.
Section 24 BNS Overview
- Special Intent Required: This law is only relevant when a crime or action needs a specific intention or knowledge. It means that for certain actions to be considered a crime, the person must have a clear and specific intent or awareness of what they are doing.
- Sober Treatment: If a person commits a crime while they are drunk or high, the law will consider their actions as if they were sober. This means the law doesn’t excuse their behavior just because they were intoxicated.
- Unconsented Intoxication: If someone was made drunk or high without their consent (for example, if someone secretly added alcohol or drugs to their drink), the law does not treat them as if they were sober. In this case, the law recognizes that they did not choose to be intoxicated.
- Knowledge Assumed: The law assumes that a person who is intoxicated had the same knowledge and awareness as if they were not intoxicated. This means the law expects that the person knew what they were doing, even if they were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Still Responsible: A person is still held responsible for their actions if it is proven that they had the required intent or knowledge, even if they were intoxicated. The key point is whether they knew what they were doing and intended to do it.
- Focus on Intent: The main focus of this law is on the intent of the person. The court will look closely at whether the person had the specific intent or knowledge needed to commit the crime.
- Forced Intoxication: The law offers protection to those who were forced into being intoxicated without their consent. If someone was unwillingly made drunk or high, the law recognizes this and does not hold them to the same standards as someone who chose to drink or use drugs.
- Fair Judgment: The law aims to ensure that judgments are fair. It carefully considers whether the person had the intent or knowledge required by the law, especially when the person was intoxicated.
- Not for All Crimes: This law does not apply to every type of crime. It only applies to those crimes where having a specific intent or knowledge is necessary for the crime to have occurred.
- Legal Fairness: Overall, this section of the law is about making sure that people are judged fairly, taking into account whether they had the necessary intent or knowledge, even if they were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 24
Aspect | Explanation |
---|---|
Definition | If a crime needs special intent or knowledge, a person is judged as sober unless intoxicated without their consent. |
Offence | The act is still a crime if it needs special intent or knowledge, even if done while intoxicated. |
Punishment | The person is punished as if they were sober if they had the required intent or knowledge. |
Bailable | Bail depends on the crime, not directly on intoxication. |
BNS Section 24 FAQs
What does BNS Section 24 deal with?
It deals with cases where someone commits a crime needing special intent while intoxicated. They are judged as if sober, unless intoxicated without consent.
How is someone judged if they were drunk?
They are judged as if sober if the crime needed special intent or knowledge, unless they were made intoxicated without their consent.
What if someone was made drunk against their will?
If they were made intoxicated without their knowledge or consent, this section doesn’t apply, and they are not judged as if sober.
Can a drunk person be held responsible?
Yes, if the crime needs specific intent or knowledge, and they had that while intoxicated, they are held responsible.
Does this section apply to every crime?
No, it only applies to crimes that need special intent or knowledge.
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