Communication made in good faith
Section 31 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 deals with communication made in good faith. No communication made in good faith is an offence by reason of any harm to the person to whom it is made, if it is made for the benefit of that person. The Act came into force on 01 Jul 2024.
No communication made in good faith is an offence by reason of any harm to the person to whom it is made, if it is made for the benefit of that person.
Illustration.
A, a surgeon, in good faith, communicates to a patient his opinion that he cannot live. The patient dies in consequence of the shock. A has committed no offence, though he knew it to be likely that the communication might cause the patient's death.
Section 31, The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act 45 of 2023).
Replaces a provision of the Indian Penal Code
IPC 93 Communication made in good faith 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 The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force.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.
Questions about Section 31
What does Section 31 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita deal with?
Section 31 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita is headed "Communication made in good faith". No communication made in good faith is an offence by reason of any harm to the person to whom it is made, if it is made for the benefit of that person.
How do I find court cases under Section 31 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 31, section 31 BNS, section 31 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.
What should I read with Section 31 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and has it changed?
It carries forward IPC 93 (Communication made in good faith), so the judgments decided under that provision are the case law on this one.
When did Section 31 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita come into force?
Section 31 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, cited as BNS 31, 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
- 2. Definitions2199 words
- 356. Defamation1543 words
- 335. Making a false document1318 words
- 101. Murder1177 words
- 303. Theft1104 words
- 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.