Act of Judge when acting judicially
Section 15 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 deals with act of Judge when acting judicially. Nothing is an offence which is done by a Judge when acting judicially in the exercise of any power which is, or which in good faith he believes to be, given to him by law. The Act came into force on 01 Jul 2024.
Nothing is an offence which is done by a Judge when acting judicially in the exercise of any power which is, or which in good faith he believes to be, given to him by law.
Section 15, The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act 45 of 2023).
Replaces a provision of the Indian Penal Code
IPC 77 Act of Judge when acting judicially Text carried over almost unchanged 100%
Measured by comparing the text of the two provisions, not taken from an official correspondence table — there is no machine-readable one. See both texts side by side before relying on it.
Both regimes are live. The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force. We never redirect one to the other.
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Tummala Lakshmana Rao vs Sri Sadhu Narayana
Decided under Indian Penal Code 77, which this section replaces. The court did not have this Act before it.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
When a public servant, including a judge, is accused of offences punishable under Sections 217, 218, 219, 166, and 167 IPC (offences committable only by public servants), previous sanction of the appropriate Government under Section 197 Cr.P.C is a mandatory condition precedent for taking cognizance of such offences. Additionally, judicial acts performed by judges in exercise of their judicial powers are protected by Section 77 IPC, and official actions taken pursuant to judicial orders are protected by Section 78 IPC. Private criminal complaints against judges for acts performed in their judicial capacity are not maintainable, and the proper remedy is through appellate courts, not collateral criminal proceedings.
On this section: Provides immunity for acts done by judges when acting judicially in exercise of powers given by law; applied to protect the third respondent's judicial order
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Questions about Section 15
What have the courts held on Section 15 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?
Tummala Lakshmana Rao vs Sri Sadhu Narayana (17 Sep 2010) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below, though it was decided under IPC 77, which this section replaced -- the court never mentioned this Act: Provides immunity for acts done by judges when acting judicially in exercise of powers given by law; applied to protect the third respondent's judicial order.
How do I find court cases under Section 15 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: BNS 15, section 15 BNS, section 15 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Tummala Lakshmana Rao vs Sri Sadhu Narayana (17 Sep 2010).
What should I read with Section 15 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and has it changed?
It carries forward IPC 77 (Act of Judge when acting judicially), so the judgments decided under that provision are the case law on this one.
When did Section 15 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita come into force?
Section 15 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, cited as BNS 15, came into force on 01 Jul 2024, having been enacted on 25 Dec 2023. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
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- 101. Murder1177 words
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- 3. General explanations858 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.