Introduction

The first two primers in the series on ‘Reimagining Crime and Punishment in India’ explored India’s view on crime, punishment, and its expectations from criminal laws. They also explored best practices from around the world to check overcriminalisation and guide prescription of punishments. This primer, third in the series, attempts to understand how India punishes. We do this by analysing punishments prescribed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (‘BNS’), now set to replace the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (‘IPC’),  and under other special laws (‘SLs’) that cover a major  part of India’s criminal law landscape.

This primer intends to provide an overview of punishments prescribed under Indian laws, delve into the nuances of each form of punishment, and identify inconsistencies in penal policy envisaged under the law. It also seeks to initiate a broad-based public discussion around the oft-ignored subject of how India punishes.

Findings

Imprisonment.

Despite being one of the most common forms of punishment globally, the imposition of imprisonment for crimes in India is riddled with inconsistencies and arbitrariness. While some offences of very different gravities are punishable by the same term of imprisonment, offences of the same gravity are often punishable with different terms. For instance, wrongfully restraining a person [Section 126, BNS] and applying for a conductor’s licence when disqualified to do so [Section 182, Motor Vehicles Act, 2019] are equally punishable with imprisonment of upto one month. On the other hand, selling and buying a minor child for the purpose of prostitution [Section 98,99, BNS] are punishable with imprisonment upto 10 and 14 years respectively. 

Furthermore, offences of incremental gravity, such as simpliciter rape as compared to aggravated rape, are subject to the same punishment. There are also inconsistencies in punishments for different stages of committing an offence. While some crimes have different punishments for preparation, attempt, and actual commission, others have the same punishment.

Life imprisonment.

There are several inconsistencies in how the punishment of life imprisonment is employed.  Generally, life imprisonment is prescribed for grave offences, such as murder, dowry death, rape of a minor, gang rape, terrorist acts, organised crimes etc. Compared to this, life imprisonment appears to be disproportionately high as a punishment for offences such as possessing counterfeit marked material (Section 342, BNS) or fraudulent cancellation of will (Section 343, BNS).

Additionally, life imprisonment is provided as an alternative punishment for offences punishable with a maximum imprisonment of 7 or 14 years. Therefore, the choice is often between two extremes – either a maximum imprisonment of 7 years, or life imprisonment. For instance, the offence of endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India (Section 152, BNS) is punishable with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment which may extend to 7 years. 

There is also no discernible rationale for why life imprisonment is prescribed for some offences and not for others. Even as the BNS and other special laws prescribe maximum prison terms of 10, 14 or 20 years for various offences, these may not necessarily attract life imprisonment as an alternative. But several offences that attract a relatively shorter prison term of 3 or 7 years, attract life imprisonment in the alternative. 

Furthermore, there is excessive judicial discretion owing to the massive range between the mandatory minimum punishment and life imprisonment. In the absence of uniform sentencing guidelines, such broad discretion can lead to arbitrariness.

Death penalty.

Death penalty is prescribed only for the most serious and heinous offenses. While the fundamental question of whether the death penalty is a just and effective form of punishment remains unresolved, its application is often arbitrary. For most offences, the death penalty is provided as an alternative alongside imprisonment or life imprisonment. However, the extent of discretion in choosing between these punishments varies.

For instance, the offence of fabricating evidence that leads to the conviction and execution of an innocent person [Section 230(2), BNS] is punishable with minimum imprisonment of 10 years imprisonment to the death penalty. In contrast, for offenses such as murder, the discretion is more limited, with only life imprisonment or death as options.

Fines.

The prescription of fines under BNS and other special laws is also notably inconsistent. While some offences such as acid attack [Section 124, BNS] and murder [Section 103, BNS] have fines as one of the prescribed punishments, other offences such as rape causing death or permanent vegetative state of the victim [Section 66, BNS] do not, with no discernible rationale for such differentiation. 

For several offences, the range of fine amounts remains unspecified and without clear guidelines as to how the quantum of fine is to be judicially determined. Additionally, only some fines are restorative and rehabilitative, others are not. For instance, for the offence of rape of a woman under 16 or 12 years of age [Sections 65(1) and 65(2), BNS] and gang rape [Section 70(1), BNS] the fine is stipulated to be just and reasonable to meet the medical expenses while no such stipulation is made for other offences of similar nature such as aggravated rape [Section 64(2), BNS] and rape [Section 64(1), BNS].

In certain cases, the amount of fine imposed does not directly correspond to the severity of the offence. While some offences of varying seriousness are punishable with the same fine, some similar offences are punishable with different fines. 

Community service. 

Community service, while introduced as a punishment for petty offences, is prescribed only for 6 offences. Except for the offence of theft [Section 303(2)], community service is provided as an alternative to imprisonment and fine.

Section 229(1) of the BNSS defines petty offences as those punishable only by a fine not exceeding 5,000 rupees. By this definition, community service has not been provided as an alternative for several ‘petty offences’ under the BNS. For instance, community service has not been provided for the offence of public nuisance [Section 292, BNS] and for causing danger, obstruction or injury to any person in any public way [Section 285, BNS].

The path ahead: reimagining penal sanctions

The way forward as envisioned by this primer must stem from a re-evaluation of the criminal justice system’s expectations from criminal punishments. This report seeks to initiate a broad-based public discussion around the oft-ignored subject of how India punishes. We recommend that the criminal legislative framework be modified to one that is non-arbitrary, principled, just and consistent. In its advocacy for justice over punishment, the criminal justice system should also elucidate the real purpose of punishments – outlining the aim to transform convicts and facilitate reintegration into the society by looking beyond punitive measures.