SELF DEFENCE IN PPC

Section.96 to 106
Introduction

 Sections 96 to 106 of the Pakistan Penal Code state the law relating to the
right of private defence of person and property. The provisions contained in
these sections give authority to a man to use necessary force against an
assailant or wrong-doer for the purpose of protecting one’s own body and
property as also another’s body and property when immediate aid from the
state machinery is not readily available; and in so doing he is not answerable in
law for his deeds.
 Self-help is the first rule of criminal law. The right of private defence is
absolutely necessary for the protection of one’s life, liberty and property. It is a
right inherent in a man. But the kind and amount of force is minutely regulated
by law. The use of force to protect one’s property and person is called the right
of private defence.
What is self defence

 Self-Defense and Defense of Others

 Self-defense and defense of others are two criminal defenses that can be
used when a criminal defendant commits a criminal act but believes that he
or she was justified in doing so. Although our legal system generally
discourages the use of force or violence against others, courts have
recognized that all individuals have the right to protect themselves from
harm and may use reasonable force in order to do so. Likewise, the
defense of others defense also recognizes the right to use reasonable force
in defense of others who are threatened.
 It is also called private defence because it includes defence against body
and property both.this defence might be against your own body or
property or other person body or property.
Imminent threat

 For both self-defense and defense of others, the threat faced must have
been imminent such that it put the criminal defendant, or the one he or she
was defending, in fear of immediate harm. This can be accomplished
through words that imply a threat of force or an actual show of force.
However, mere offensive language is not enough to support a claim for
self-defense.
 Additionally, the defense of self-defense or defense of others is available
only while the threat is ongoing. After the threat has ended, the use of force
is no longer appropriate. This would be considered an act of retaliation, as
opposed to self-defense.
Reasonable fear

 In addition to the threat being imminent, both self-defense and defense of others
require that the fear that caused the criminal defendant to act with force was
reasonable. This means that fear is assessed according to the reasonable-person
standard, which asks what an ordinary and reasonable individual would do under the
circumstances. Thus, for instance, a defendant may have been threatened by a man
holding a toy gun and responded by assaulting or harming the man. If a “reasonable
man” would also have believed that the toy gun was a real threat and have responded
with fear as well, the defendant’s actions will likely be considered self-defense.
 When a criminal defendant’s response does not meet the reasonable-person standard,
but the defendant did truly fear a threat of harm, this is called imperfect self-defense.
Imperfect self-defense will not act as a complete defense to the crime that is charged,
but many states will allow it as a defense that lessens the charges brought against the
defendant or any possible punishment he or she may face
Proportional force

 As an additional element, self-defense and defense of others also require that the force used is
proportional to the threat faced. This is very important in the context of deadly force. A criminal
defendant may not use deadly force to respond to a threat that was not itself deadly. Thus, for
example, if a defendant is faced with the threat of being punched in the face during an argument,
he cannot respond by stabbing the other individual. This would not constitute self-defense.
However, if the defendant believes he is about to be shot and shoots back, this may be considered
proportional force.
 Some states provide two important caveats to this principle. The first is the “duty to retreat.” Under
the duty to retreat, many states require that a defendant make an attempt to avoid the use of
deadly force by leaving a threatening situation if possible. In these states, only after an attempt to
retreat from the violent situation may a defendant use deadly force. Second, some states have
“stand your ground” laws, which are somewhat like an exception to the duty to retreat requirement.
Stand your ground laws provide that when an individual is attacked in his or her home, there is no
duty to retreat, and reasonable force can be used. Many states have stand your ground laws with
regard to non-deadly force, but they are less likely to eliminate the duty to retreat when deadly
force is used.
Things done in private defence
(Section 96) :
 Things done in private defence (Section 96) :

         Nothing is an offence which is done in the exercise of the right
of private defence.
Right of private defence of the body and of
property (Section 97) : 

         Every person has a right, subject to the restrictions contained in Section 99, to defend -

     First -

            His own body, and the body of any other person, against any offence affecting the human body;

    Secondly -
 
              The property, whether movable or immovable, of himself or of any other person, against any
act which is an offence falling under the definition of theft, robbery, mischief or criminal trespass, or
which is an attempt to commit theft, robbery, mischief or criminal trespass.

             Section 97 of PPC divides the right of private defence into two parts. first part deals with the
right of private defence of person and second part with the right of private defence of property. The rights
of defends is not only to the defence of own body or property but also extend to defending the body and
property of any other person. Even a stranger can also defend the person or property of another person
and vice versa.
3) Right of private defence against the act
of a person of unsound mind, etc. (Section
98) :
 3) Right of private defence against the act of a person of unsound
mind, etc. (Section 98) :

              When an act which would otherwise be a certain offence, is not

that offence, by reason of the youth, the want of maturity of
understanding, the unsoundness of mind or the intoxication of the person
doing that act, or by reason of any misconception on the part of that
person, every person has the same right of private defence against that act
which he would have if the act were that offence.

      Illustrations

                 (a) Z, under the influence of madness, attempts to kill A; Z is

guilty of no offence. But A has the same right of private defence which he
would have if Z were sa
According to Section 99 of Pakistan Penal
Code there is no right of Private defence -

i) against the acts of a public servant acting in good faith and;

ii) against the acts of the those acting under the authority or direction of
a public servant.

iii) where there is sufficient time for recourse to public authorities; and

iv) The quantum of harm of that may be caused shall in no case be in

excesses.
When the right of private defence of the
body extends to causing death
(Section100) : 
  

        The right of private defence of the body extends, under the restrictions mentioned in the last preceding
section, to the voluntary causing of death or of any other harm to the assailant, if the offence which
occasions the exercise of the right be of any of the descriptions hereinafter enumerated, namely :

    First - Such an assault as may reasonably cause the apprehension that death will otherwise be the
consequence of such assault;

   Secondly - Such an assault as may reasonably cause the apprehension that grievous hurt will otherwise
be the consequence of such assault

     Thirdly - An assault with the intention of committing rape;

     Fourthly - An assault with the intention of gratifying unnatural lust;

     Fifthly - An assault with the intention of kidnapping or abducting; 

    Sixthly - An assault with the intention of wrongfully confining a person, under circumstances which may
reasonably cause him to apprehend that he will be unable to have recourse to the public authorities for his
release. 
6) When such right extends to causing any
harm other than death (Section 101) : 

        If the offence be not of any of the descriptions enumerated in the

last preceding section, the right of private defence of the body does not
extend to the voluntary causing of death to the assailant, but does
extend, under the restrictions mentioned in section 99, to the voluntary
causing to the assailant of any harm other than death.
commencement and continuance of the right
of private defence of the body (Section 102) :

      The right of private defence of the body commences as soon as a

reasonable apprehension of danger to the body arises from an attempt
or threat to commit the offence though the offence may not have been
committed; and it continues as long as such apprehension of danger to
the body continues.
When the right of private defence of
property extends to causing death (Section
103) : 
  

      The right of private defence of property extends, under the restrictions mentioned in
section 99, to the voluntary causing of death or of any other harm to the wrong-doer, if the
offence, the committing of which, or the attempting to commit which, occasions the exercise
of the right, be an offence of any of the descriptions hereinafter enumerated, namely -

     First -  Robbery ;

    Secondly - House-breaking by night;

    Thirdly - Mischief by fire committed on any building, tent or vessel, which building, tent
or vessel is used as a human dwelling, or as a place for the custody of property;

    Fourthly -Theft, mischief, or house-trespass, under such circumstances as may

reasonably cause apprehension that death or grievous hurt will be the consequence, if such
right of private defence is not exercised.
) When such right to causing any
harm other than death (Section 104

           If the offence, the committing of which, or the attempting to

commit which occasions the exercise of the right of private defence, be
theft, mischief, or criminal trespass, not of any of the descriptions
enumerated in the last preceding section, that right does not extend to
the voluntary causing of death, but does extend, subject to the
restrictions mentioned in section 99, to the voluntary causing to the
wrong-doer of any harm other than death.
 Commencement and continuance of
private defence section.105


10) Commencement and continuance of the right of private defence of
property (Section 105)

           The right of private defence of property commences when a reasonable

apprehension of danger to the property commences.
             The right of private defence of property against theft continues till the
offender has effected his retreat with the property or either the assistance of the
public authorities is obtained, or the property has been recovered.
            The right of private defence of property against robbery continues as long as
the offender causes or attempts to cause to any person death or hurt or wrongful
restraint or as long as the fear of instant death or of instant hurt or of instant
personal restraint continues.
             The right of private defence of property against criminal trespass or mischief
continues as long as the offender continues in the commission of criminal trespass or
mischief.
              The right of private defence of property against house-breaking by night
continues as long as the house-trespass which has been begun by such house-
breaking continues
Right of private defence when risk of harm
of innocent people is there section 106

 Right of private defence against deadly assault when there is risk of

harm to innocent person (Section 106) : 

              If in the exercise of the right of private defence against an assault

which reasonably causes the apprehension of death, the defender be so
situated that he cannot effectually exercise that right without risk of harm to
an innocent person, his right of private defence extends to the running of that
risk.

    Illustration : 

          A is attacked by a mob who attempt to murder him. He cannot

effectually exercise his right of private defence without firing on the mob, and
he cannot fire without risk of harming young children who are mingled with
the mob. A commits no offence if by so firing he harms any of the children.