BNS Section 10 — Punishment of person guilty of one of several offences, judgment stating that it is doubtful of which

Summary

When a court gives its judgment and decides that a person is guilty of one of several offences named in that judgment, but it is unclear which specific one of those offences the person actually committed, the person must be punished for the offence that carries the lowest punishment. This applies only if the punishment is not the same for all the offences listed in the judgment. If all the offences carry the same punishment, then that common punishment is used.

Official Text

In all cases in which judgment is given that a person is guilty of one of several offences specified in the judgment, but that it is doubtful of which of these offences he is guilty, the offender shall be punished for the offence for which the lowest punishment is provided if the same punishment is not provided for all.

Related Judgments

• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.11 p.291 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1531 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.6 p.280 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2024) Vol.8 p.670 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
• SC (2024) Vol.10 p.930 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
• SC (2025) Vol.7 p.105 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2024) Vol.6 p.129 — Supreme Court of India (2024)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• IPC §72 — Punishment of person guilty of one of several offences, judgment stating that it is doubtful of which