BNS Section 22 explained in easy Hindi with examples. Learn legal insanity, mens rea and criminal liability under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023.

BNS Section 22 Explained in Easy Hindi

Act of a Person of Unsound Mind

(Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023)

BNS Section 22 Explained in Easy Hindi

Introduction

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS) ne purane IPC ko replace kar diya hai.
BNS ke Section 22 ko General Exceptions ke andar rakha gaya hai, jiska main objective hai justice ke saath humanity ko balance karna.

Is section ka basic principle ye hai ki:

Jo vyakti apne mansik rog (unsound mind) ke kaaran apne kaam ki nature ya galat-sahi ko samajh hi nahi sakta, usse criminally responsible nahi banaya ja sakta.

Ye section:

• Law students

• Judiciary exams

• Criminal defence practice
  ke liye bahut hi important hai.

BNS Section 22 – Simple Language Meaning

Section 22 kehta hai:
Agar koi vyakti:

1. Unsound mind ka shikar ho, aur

2. Crime karte waqt

   • apne kaam ki prakriti (nature)

   • ya uske galat hone (wrongfulness)
     ko samajhne me asamarth ho,

to us vyakti ka act offence nahi mana jayega.

Yani yahan mens rea (criminal intention) absent mani jati hai.

Unsound Mind ka Matlab Kya Hai?

Unsound mind ka matlab sirf ye nahi hai ki:

• vyakti pagal hai

• ya usne kabhi psychiatrist ko dikhaya hai

❌ Ye cheezen akeli kaafi nahi hoti.

✔️ Legal sense me unsound mind ka matlab hai:

• vyakti apni mansik sthiti ke kaaran

• apne kaam ke consequences samajhne ki capacity kho chuka ho.

Medical Insanity vs Legal Insanity

Ye difference samajhna bahut zaroori hai.

Medical Insanity	Legal Insanity
Doctor ka diagnosis	Court ka test
Disease ka hona	Understanding ka abhav
Automatic defence nahi	Tabhi defence jab prove ho
Treatment based	Liability based

👉 Court hamesha legal insanity check karti hai, medical nahi.

Section 22 Apply Hone Ki Zaroori Conditions

BNS Section 22 tabhi apply hoga jab sab conditions saath me present hon:

Condition	Explanation
Unsound mind	Mansik rog ya abnormality
Time factor	Act ke time present honi chahiye
Understanding	Nature ya legality samajhne me asamarth
Proof	Evidence se establish hona chahiye

Past mental illness ka hona kaafi nahi
Future illness bhi irrelevant hai
Sirf “act ke time” ki condition dekhi jati hai

Mens Rea aur BNS Section 22

Criminal law ka golden rule:

Act + Mens Rea = Crime

Section 22 me:

• Act to hota hai

• Lekin mens rea absent hoti hai

Isliye:
✔️ Crime legally complete nahi hota
✔️ Accused ko punishment nahi di jati

Practical Examples (Easy Samajhne Ke Liye)

Example 1

👉 Ek vyakti schizophrenia se peedit hai
👉 Use hallucination hota hai ki koi use maarne aa raha hai
👉 Isi bhram me wo kisi ko chot pahucha deta hai

✔️ Agar prove ho jaye ki us waqt uski understanding nahi thi → Section 22 apply hoga

Example 2

👉 Mansik rogi public place par bina wajah tod-phod karta hai
👉 Wo apne kaam ka result nahi samajh raha

✔️ Criminal offence nahi
✔️ Treatment ya protective custody ho sakti hai

Example 3

👉 Vyakti crime ke baad mental illness ka claim karta hai
👉 Lekin act ke time wo bilkul normal tha

Section 22 apply nahi hoga

Burden of Proof Kiske Upar Hai?

📌 BNS Section 22 ka benefit lene ke liye burden accused par hota hai.

Accused ko court me prove karna hota hai:

• wo unsound mind ka shikar tha

• aur act ke time incapable tha

Evidence kya ho sakta hai?

• Medical reports

• Psychiatrist/doctor ki testimony

• Witness statements

• Act ke pehle aur baad ka behaviour

Court Kya-Kya Factors Dekhti Hai?

Court sirf medical report par depend nahi karti. Wo ye bhi dekhti hai:

1️⃣ Act planning ke saath tha ya nahi
2️⃣ Act ke baad accused ka behaviour
3️⃣ Police se baat karne ka tareeka
4️⃣ Consequences ka gyaan
5️⃣ Social interaction

Agar planning aur awareness dikhe:
 Section 22 fail ho jata hai

Judiciary Exam Importance

MCQ Example

Q. BNS Section 22 ka sabse important test kya hai?
A) Mental illness ka hona
B) Past treatment
C) Unsoundness at the time of act
D) Family history

✅ Correct Answer: C

Section 22 ka Practical Use (Defence Angle)

Ye section aam taur par use hota hai:

• Murder cases

• Serious assault cases

• Sudden irrational acts

• Property damage cases

Defence lawyer is section ka sahara leta hai jab:

• Act illogical ho

• Motive absent ho

• Behaviour abnormal ho

Common Misconceptions

❌ “Mental hospital me admit hona hi kaafi hai”
✔️ Galat

❌ “Medical certificate = acquittal”
✔️ Nahi

❌ “Har pagal ko benefit milta hai”
✔️ Sirf legal insanity ko milta hai

Law Students ke Liye Short Notes

• Section 22 = General Exception

• Legal insanity zaroori

• Time of act decisive

• Burden on accused

• Mens rea absent

Quick Revision Table

Point	Rule
Section	BNS 22
Subject	Unsound mind
Key test	Understanding at time of act
Burden	Accused
Result	No offence

Conclusion

BNS Section 22 ka purpose punishment nahi balki justice aur compassion hai.
Law maanta hai:

Jo vyakti apne kaam ko samajhne ki sthiti me hi nahi hai, use criminal saza dena nyay nahi hoga.

Isliye BNS ne is section ko human-centric criminal law ka hissa banaya hai.