The punishments are prescribed in Indian Penal Code alone. They are:

  • Death,
  • Imprisonment for life
  • Imprisonment, which is of two descriptions, namely: – (1) Rigorous, that is with hard labour; (2) simple;
  • (v) Forfeiture of property;
  • (vi) fine.

By the time British framed the Indian Penal Code in 1860 for the Indian subjects, there were only 8 offences which could be punished with death. They are:

1. Section 121: Waging war or attempt to wage war against the Government of India:

2. Section 132: Abetting mutiny if mutiny is committed in consequence thereof.

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3. Section 194: Giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction; and an innocent person is thereby convicted and executed.

4. Section 302: Punishment for murder.

5. Section 303: Punishment for murder by a life convict.

6. Section 305: Abetment of suicide of a child or insane person.

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7. Section 307: When a life convict attempts to murder and thereby causes hurt.

8. Section 396: Dacoity with murder.

Out of these eight sections Section 303 of I.P.C. was struck down by the Supreme Court of India as the Apex Court observed this section is violative of Articles 14 and 21 of Indian Constitution; and latter a larger bench of Supreme Court restored the original text and thus Section 303 IPC exists in the penal laws.