General Exceptions under BNS Chapter III completely negative mens rea, acting as justifications or excuses to absolve criminal liability.
1. Key General Exceptions
- Minority (BNS Section 20/21): Absolute immunity for children under 7 (*Doli incapax*); qualified immunity for children between 7 and 12 depending on maturity.
- Necessity (BNS Section 23): Committing a lesser harm in good faith to prevent a greater harm (e.g., pulling down a burning house to prevent the fire from spreading).
- Insanity (BNS Section 22):
- An act committed by a person of unsound mind is not an offense if they cannot know the nature of the act.
- Legal vs. Medical Insanity: The law only excuses *legal insanity* (cognitive inability to distinguish right from wrong under the *McNaughten rules*) and not mere psychiatric medical insanity.
2. The Right of Private Defense (BNS Sections 34-44)
Every citizen has the legal right to defend their own body/property, and the body/property of another, against unlawful aggression.
Limits on Private Defense:
- No more harm must be inflicted than is reasonably necessary.
- No right of private defense exists when there is reasonable time to seek help from public authorities.