Understanding Sections 9 and 10 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Sections 9 and 10 of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, provide that punishments should be just and proportionate. Section 9 avoids excessive punishment for offenses which are part of a single offense, so that an individual is punished for the composite offense and not for every component part. It also makes a distinction between offenses which are connected and offenses which are separate to provide fair sentencing. Section 10 offers relief against uncertainty so that an accused person is penalized for the lowest offense in situations of doubt. Such provisions secure justice by inhibiting harsh and unjust punishments, affirming that sentencing should be reasonable and well-balanced.
