BNS Section 20 and 21 Explained in Hindi – Child Between 7 to 12 Years | Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita

BNS Section 20 explained in easy Hindi with examples. Learn criminal liability of child under 7 years under Bharatiya BNS SectionNyaya Sanhita 2023.

BNS Section 20 Explained in Easy Hindi

Act of a Child Under Seven Years of Age

(Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023)

Introduction

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) ke tahat Section 20 ek bahut hi important General Exception hai.
Is section ka basic principle ye hai ki 7 saal se kam umar ka bachcha criminally liable nahi hota, chahe usne koi bhi act kyon na kiya ho.

Ye topic:

• Law students

• Judiciary exams

• Criminal defence
  ke liye bahut zyada scoring hai.

BNS Section 20 Explained in Easy Hindi

BNS Section 20 – Text ka Simple Meaning

Section 20 ka seedha matlab:

7 saal se kam umar ke bachche ka koi bhi kaam “offence” nahi mana jayega.

Yani law maanta hai ki:

• Itni chhoti age me

• Bachcha apne act ke nature aur consequences nahi samajh sakta

• Isliye usme mens rea (criminal intention) nahi hoti

Is Section ke Peeche Law ka Logic (Reasoning)

1️⃣ Mental Development

• 7 saal se pehle bachcha:

  • Right aur wrong ka difference clear nahi jaanta

  • Society ke rules nahi samajhta

2️⃣ Mens Rea ka Absence

Criminal law ka golden rule hai:

“Act + Guilty Mind = Crime”

Yahan guilty mind hoti hi nahi,
isliye crime bhi nahi.

BNS Section 20 ki Important Conditions

Condition	Explanation
Age	Bachcha 7 saal se kam hona chahiye
Act	Act koi bhi ho sakta hai
Intention	Law assume karta hai ki intention nahi hai
Result	No criminal liability

Chahe act kitna bhi serious ho, Section 20 apply hota hai.

Practical Examples (Easy Language)

Example 1

👉 5 saal ka bachcha kisi ka mobile tod deta hai
✔️ Criminal case nahi banega

Example 2

👉 6 saal ka bachcha mazaak me kisi ko chot pahucha deta hai
✔️ BNS Section 20 protection dega

Example 3

👉 4 saal ka bachcha fire jala deta hai aur nuksaan ho jata hai
✔️ Bachcha criminally liable nahi
❗ Civil liability parents par aa sakti hai

Kya Parents Par Case Banega?

❌ Criminal case – NO
✔️ Civil liability – ho sakti hai

Court ye dekh sakti hai:

• Parents ki negligence

• Supervision ki kami

Lekin bachcha kabhi criminal accused nahi banega.

BNS Section 20 vs Section 21 (Basic Difference)

Point	Section 20	Section 21
Age	Under 7 years	7–12 years
Liability	Absolute immunity	Conditional immunity
Maturity check	Nahi hoti	Hoti hai

👉 Section 20 me court ko maturity check karne ka option hi nahi hota.

Judiciary Exam Importance

MCQ Example

Q. BNS ke tahat 6 saal ke bachche dwara kiya gaya act kya hoga?
A) Offence
B) Civil wrong
C) No offence
D) Heinous offence

✅ Correct Answer: C) No offence

Case Law Concept (Theory Based)

Indian courts ka consistent view raha hai ki:

Under seven child is doli incapax (incapable of crime)

Ye principle BNS me bhi continue kiya gaya hai.

Common Misconceptions

❌ “Agar act serious ho to case banega”
✔️ Galat – seriousness matter nahi karti

❌ “Police FIR likh sakti hai”
✔️ FIR likhi ja sakti hai, lekin trial nahi chalega

Law Students ke Liye Notes Point

• Section 20 = Absolute defence

• Age proof important hota hai

• Mens rea automatically absent mani jati hai

• Exam me direct questions aate hai

Act of a Child Above Seven and Under Twelve Years of Age

(Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023)

Introduction

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) ke Section 21 ka relation child liability se hai, lekin ye section Section 20 se bilkul alag concept par based hai.

Section 21 un bachchon par lagu hota hai:

• jinki age 7 saal se zyada

• aur 12 saal se kam hoti hai

Is section ka core idea hai “maturity of understanding”.

Ye topic:

• Judiciary exams

• Law students ke notes

• Criminal defence
  ke liye bahut hi important hai.

BNS Section 21 – Simple Meaning

Section 21 ke mutabik:

Agar 7–12 saal ka bachcha koi act karta hai, aur court ko ye lagta hai ki bachcha apne act ke nature aur consequences samajhne me capable nahi tha, to uska act offence nahi mana jayega.

Yani yahan:

• immunity absolute nahi

• balki conditional hoti hai

Section 21 ka Legal Principle

🔑 “Doli Incapax – Conditional”

• Doli incapax ka matlab:

  crime karne ki capacity ka abhav

Section 21 me:

• bachcha presumed innocent hota hai

• lekin ye presumption rebuttable hoti hai

👉 Prosecution proof karegi ki bachcha mature tha.

Section 21 Apply Hone Ki Conditions

Condition	Explanation
Age	7 se upar aur 12 se kam
Act	Koi bhi act
Understanding	Nature & consequences samajhne ki capability nahi
Burden of Proof	Prosecution par

⚠️ Agar maturity prove ho jaye → offence ban sakta hai.

Court Kya Check Karti Hai?

Court bachche ki mental maturity ko judge karti hai:

1️⃣ Bachche ka behaviour
2️⃣ Act ki planning thi ya nahi
3️⃣ Act ke baad ka conduct
4️⃣ Education & background
5️⃣ Witness statements

Practical Examples

Example 1

👉 8 saal ka bachcha bina samjhe kisi ka mobile tod deta hai
✔️ No offence (lack of understanding)

Example 2

👉 11 saal ka bachcha pehle se plan karke chori karta hai
❌ Offence ho sakta hai (maturity present)

Example 3

👉 10 saal ka bachcha mazaak me fire jala deta hai
✔️ Court maturity evaluate karegi

Difference Between BNS Section 20 & 21

Point	Section 20	Section 21
Age	Under 7	7–12
Immunity	Absolute	Conditional
Maturity test	Nahi	Haan
Burden	N/A	Prosecution

Judiciary Exam MCQs

Q1. BNS Section 21 ka main focus kya hai?
A) Age
B) Act
C) Maturity of understanding
D) Punishment

✅ Answer: C

Case Law Concept (Theory Based)

Courts ka consistent view raha hai:

Sirf age ka hona kaafi nahi, maturity prove honi chahiye.

Agar prosecution ye prove na kare:
✔️ Bachcha benefit lega.

Parents ki Liability

❌ Criminal liability – nahi
✔️ Civil liability – ho sakti hai

Court ye dekhti hai:

• Negligence

• Proper supervision tha ya nahi

Common Misconceptions

❌ “7–12 ka bachcha hamesha guilty hota hai”
✔️ Galat

❌ “Court automatic punishment de degi”
✔️ Nahi, maturity decide hogi

Law Students ke Liye Short Notes

• Section 21 = Conditional immunity

• Presumption of innocence

• Burden on prosecution

• Fact-based determination

Comparative Table (Quick Revision)

Element	Rule
Age	7–12 years
Understanding	Necessary
Immunity	Conditional
Defence	Lack of maturity

Conclusion

BNS Section 21 ka aim balance banana hai:

• Bachche ki protection

• Society ki safety

Law maanta hai:

Har bachcha ek jaisa mentally developed nahi hota.

Isliye individual assessment zaroori hai.