IPC Section 376E — Punishment for repeat offenders

Summary

If a person has already been convicted of a specific serious sexual offence under certain sections of the law, and is later convicted again for any of those same offences, the court must sentence them to life imprisonment for the rest of their natural life, or to the death penalty. This rule applies only when the person has a prior conviction for one of those listed offences and then commits another such offence.

Official Text

Whoever has been previously convicted of an offence punishable under section 376 or section 376A or section1 376AB or section 376D or section 376DA or section 376DB and is subsequently convicted of an offence punishable under any of the said sections shall be punished with imprisonment for life which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person’s natural life, or with death1.

Related Judgments

• INDEPENDENT THOUGHT v. UNION OF INDIA & ANR. 835 — Supreme Court of India (2017)
• SC (2024) Vol.2 p.111 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.490 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2024) Vol.3 p.1181 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
• SC (2014) Vol.4 p.264 — Supreme Court of India (2014)
• RAJENDRA PRALHADRAO WASNIK v. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA — Supreme Court of India (2018)
• .. Petitioner vs 1 State rep by the Chair person — Madras High Court (2018)
• S.C.R. 613 UNION OF INDIA v. V. SRI HARAN — Supreme Court of India (2015)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• BNS §71 — Punishment for repeat offenders