● Retained in BNS
Nothing is an offence if done by someone legally justified, or who in good faith mistakenly but reasonably believed the law justified their act -- unchanged under BNS Section 17 from IPC 79.
Section 79 IPC excused an act done by a person justified by law, or who by a good-faith mistake of fact (not law) believed themselves justified by law in doing it -- illustrated by someone reasonably, though mistakenly, apprehending a person they believed to be a fleeing murderer.
BNS Section 17 reproduces the exception and illustration verbatim, word for word -- no substantive change.
Nothing changed -- identical text, pure renumbering from IPC 79 to BNS 17.
This general exception is itself a defence: a good-faith mistake of fact (not law) leading the accused to reasonably believe their act was legally justified negates criminal liability.
Summaries are for general information and are not legal advice. For the authoritative bare-act text, see the official Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Indian Penal Code, 1860 (full amended text, as it stood before repeal) on India Code, or the Ministry of Home Affairs' new criminal laws page. ← All comparisons