IPC 13 vs BNS 13
● Omitted in BNSDefinition of “Queen”
Section 13 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860, defines the word “Queen.” It states that the expression “Queen” refers to the Sovereign of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
This section was inserted because, at the time of the IPC’s enactment in 1860, India was under British colonial rule, and the ultimate authority was the British monarch. References to the “Queen” in the Code were meant to legally signify the head of the British Crown.
However, this provision became outdated after India’s independence in 1947, when the authority of the British Crown ceased to exist in Indian governance and law. Despite its presence in the IPC, the section became obsolete in practice, as Indian sovereignty was transferred to the people of India and the Constitution became the supreme law.
Therefore, while historically significant, IPC 13 lost all practical relevance after independence. It remained in the IPC text for decades but carried no real meaning in India’s legal system.
[No Provision]
In the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, there is no equivalent to IPC Section 13. The provision defining the word “Queen” has been removed, as it became irrelevant to independent India’s legal and constitutional framework.
The removal of this section reflects the modernization and decolonization effort undertaken in drafting the BNS. Since India is now a sovereign republic, there is no need for any legal reference to the British monarchy or its authority. Instead, the BNS focuses entirely on definitions, principles, and provisions relevant to Indian law, society, and governance today.
This deletion is significant because it eliminates outdated colonial references that no longer have any role in Indian criminal jurisprudence. The BNS aims to ensure clarity, relevance, and applicability of its provisions, avoiding any obsolete sections that existed under the IPC.
Thus, BNS 13 being absent demonstrates India’s move toward a more indigenous and independent criminal law framework. It shows that the new law is designed to reflect present realities rather than colonial history.
What changed?
This IPC provision has no direct equivalent in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita — it was dropped or merged into other provisions.