Legal Safeguards for Acting Under Legal Duty and Judicial Immunity in the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023: Sections 14 and 15
In short, the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 contains significant provisions to safeguard persons who act in legal compulsion and judges who act in their official capacity. Section 14 provides that persons who act on a reasonable belief of legal duty, e.g., a soldier or a court officer, shall not be punished for such action. Section 15 ensures that judges are protected from criminal responsibility while carrying out their judicial functions. These exceptions highlight the necessity of staying within the bounds of law and protecting individuals who obey legal orders, thus upholding a just and efficient justice system. Recent judicial examination and debates highlight that such provisions are imperative in ensuring equilibrium between upholding the law and defending the rights of those who administer it.
