INDIAN PENAL CODE (IPC), 1860

About: 

• The Indian Penal Code (IPC) is the official criminal code of India. It is a comprehensive code intended to cover all substantive aspects of criminal law.
  
  
• History: The code was drafted in 1860 on the recommendations of first law commission of India established in 1834 under the Charter Act of 1833 under the Chairmanship of Lord Macaulay. It was passed into law in 1860. The Code came into operation in 1862.
  
  

Need of reforms:

• Rebooting the code introduced by the British in 1860 was necessary as it is primarily based on the spirit of “master and servant”.
  
  
• After it was framed, the IPC has never been amended in totality. Some additions and deletions have been made.
  
  
• There are uneven punishment for crimes of grievous nature. E.g. snatching of chains could be life-threatening in some cases but the punishment is not commensurate with the gravity of the crime. Depending on the whims of the police, it is booked under robbery or theft.