BNS Section 55: Abetment of offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter 4: Of Abetment, Criminal Conspiracy and Attempt
Also available in: हिंदी
¶55. Whoever abets the commission of an offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life, shall, if that offence be not committed in consequence of the abetment, and no express provision is made under this Sanhita for the punishment of such abetment, be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine; and if any act for which the abettor is liable in consequence of the abetment, and which causes hurt to any person, is done, the abettor shall be liable to imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to fourteen years, and shall also be liable to fine.
¶Illustration.
A instigates B to murder Z. The offence is not committed. If B had murdered Z, he would have been subject to the punishment of death or imprisonment for life. Therefore, A is liable to imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and also to a fine; and if any hurt be done to Z in consequence of the abetment, he will be liable to imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years, and to fine.
Study: explanations and related material
Replaces IPC 115. IPC → BNS converterSource: BPR&D BNS–IPC corresponding section table (UP Police, 2024-06-28)
Punishment, bail and trial
55Abetment of an offence, punishable with death or imprisonment for life, if the offence be not committed in consequence of the abetment.
- Punishment
- Imprisonment for 7 years and fine.
- Cognizable or not
- According as offence abetted is cognizable or non-cognizable
- Bailable or not
- Non‑bailable
- Triable by
- Court by which offence abetted is triable
55If an act which causes harm to be done in consequence of the abetment.
- Punishment
- Imprisonment for 14 years and fine.
- Cognizable or not
- According as offence abetted is cognizable or non-cognizable
- Bailable or not
- Non‑bailable
- Triable by
- Court by which offence abetted is triable
Source: BNSS First Schedule, Gazette of India, 25 December 2023, p. 158. The Schedule gives the substance of the section, not its full definition, and a State may have amended the classification for its territory. See it in the full First Schedule
Official reference: Ministry of Home Affairs: Gazette text, 25 December 2023 — source link checked: 2 October 2026.Recorded edition / snapshot date: 2024-07-01.Mobile-app reference import; the recorded snapshot date is not a fresh legal-currency guarantee. The linked government text is an independent authoritative reference, not certification that this website reproduces the same edition. The source link was checked, not every provision or subsequent amendment. Check commencement notifications, savings and jurisdiction-specific variations separately.
This text is for reference, not legal advice. Consult the official source for the authoritative text.
Other sections in this chapter
- 45. Abetment of a thing
- 46. Abettor
- 47. Abetment in India of offences outside India
- 48. Abetment outside India for offence in India
- 49. Punishment of abetment if act abetted is committed in consequence and where no express provision is made for its punishment
- 50. Punishment of abetment if person abetted does act with different intention from that of abettor
- 51. Liability of abettor when one act abetted and different act done
- 52. Abettor when liable to cumulative punishment for act abetted and for act done
- 53. Liability of abettor for an effect caused by act abetted different from that intended by abettor
- 54. Abettor present when offence is committed
- 56. Abetment of offence punishable with imprisonment
- 57. Abetting commission of offence by public or by more than ten persons
- 58. Concealing design to commit offence punishable with death or imprisonment for life
- 59. Public servant concealing design to commit offence which it is his duty to prevent
- 60. Concealing design to commit offence punishable with imprisonment
- 61. Criminal conspiracy
- 62. Punishment for attempting to commit offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonment