Sec 84 IPC ('McNaughten Rules' in Indian form) requires that the accused be incapable of knowing 'the nature of the act' or that he is doing 'what is either wrong or contrary to law'. Which of the following BEST captures the difference from medical 'unsoundness of mind'?
ASection 84 covers any psychiatric diagnosis
BSection 84 requires LEGAL insanity, not merely medical insanity — the inability must be of a kind that destroys the cognitive faculty regarding nature/wrongness of the act AT THE TIME of the offence
CSection 84 applies to all persons treated by psychiatrists
DSection 84 covers temporary anger only
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Section 84 requires LEGAL insanity, not merely medical insanity — the inability must be of a kind that destroys the cognitive faculty regarding nature/wrongness of the act AT THE TIME of the offence
Indian courts (e.g., Surendra Mishra 2014) consistently distinguish legal from medical insanity. A diagnosis does not automatically establish the s84 defence; the accused must show inability to know the nature or wrongness of the act at the time of the offence.
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