Indian Penal Code, 1860
98. Right of
private defense against the act of a person of unsound mind, etc.
When an act, which
would otherwise be a certain offence, is not that offence, by reason of the
youth, the want of maturity of understanding, the unsoundness of mind or the
intoxication of the person doing that act, or by reason of any misconception on
the part of that person, every person has the same right of private defense
against that act which he would have if the act were that offence.
Illustrations
(a) Z, under the
influence of madness, attempts to kill A; Z is guilty of no offence. But A has
the same right of private defense which he would have if Z were sane.
(b) A enters by night
a house which he is legally entitled to enter Z, in good faith, taking A
for a house-breaker, attacks A. Here Z, by attacking A under this
misconception, commits no offence. But A has the same right of private defense
against Z, which he would have if Z were not acting under that misconception.