Section 66 BNS: Punishment for causing death or resulting in persistent vegetative state of victim
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Section 66 BNS at a Glance
Section 66 BNS deals with punishment for causing death or resulting in persistent vegetative state of victim. It is non-bailable and cognizable, triable by the Court of Session; it replaced Section 376A IPC on 1 July 2024.
Rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than twenty years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person's natural life, or with death
Section 66 BNS Bare Act Text
66. Punishment for causing death or resulting in persistent vegetative state of victim
Whoever, commits an offence punishable under sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) of section 64 and in the course of such commission inflicts an injury which causes the death of the woman or causes the woman to be in a persistent vegetative state, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than twenty years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person’s natural life, or with death.
Source: Section 66, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Section 66 BNS in Simple Words
Section 66 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) deals with cases where a person commits rape punishable under Section 64(1) or Section 64(2) BNS and, in the course of committing that offence, inflicts an injury that causes the woman's death or leaves her in a persistent vegetative state. It applies to the most brutal cases of sexual assault where violence inflicted during the commission of rape results in fatal or permanent catastrophic harm to the victim.
Because of the extreme gravity of the harm caused, the law prescribes a severe mandatory minimum sentence. An offender convicted under Section 66 BNS must be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term of not less than 20 years, which may extend to imprisonment for life (meaning imprisonment for the remainder of that person's natural life), or with death.
Ingredients of Section 66 BNS
- Commission of an offence punishable under sub-section 1 or sub-section 2 of Section 64 BNS
- Infliction of an injury in the course of such commission
- The injury causes the death of the woman or causes the woman to be in a persistent vegetative state
- Preservation of punishment of rigorous imprisonment of not less than twenty years extending to life for remainder of natural life, or death under Section 66 BNS
Punishment Under Section 66 BNS
Rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than twenty years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person's natural life, or with death
None. The section prescribes imprisonment or death and does not provide for a fine
Section 66 BNS punishes inflicting injury during rape that causes death or a persistent vegetative state with rigorous imprisonment of not less than twenty years extending to life imprisonment for natural life, or with death. The offence is cognizable, non-bailable, and triable by the Court of Session.
Example of Section 66 BNS
When Section 66 BNS Does Not Apply
- The underlying offence of rape under Section 64(1) or Section 64(2) BNS was not established
- The injury causing death or a persistent vegetative state was not inflicted in the course of committing rape
- Death resulted from entirely separate and independent causes unrelated to injuries inflicted during the assault
Section 66 BNS in the IPC (Previous Law)
Section 66 BNS replaces Section 376A IPC from the old criminal code.
Section 376A IPC corresponds to Section 66 BNS. The heading and substantive text remain unchanged, with the statutory cross-reference updating from Section 376 IPC to Section 64 BNS. The prescribed penalty of rigorous imprisonment of not less than twenty years extending to life imprisonment for the remainder of natural life, or with death, continues identical across both codes.
View IPC Section 376A →FAQs on Section 66 BNS
What does Section 66 BNS cover?▼
Section 66 BNS covers cases where a person commits an offence of rape punishable under Section 64(1) or Section 64(2) BNS and, in the course of committing it, inflicts an injury that causes the death of the woman or causes her to be in a persistent vegetative state.
When does an injury attract punishment under Section 66 BNS?▼
The injury causing death or a persistent vegetative state must be inflicted in the course of committing an offence punishable under Section 64(1) or Section 64(2) BNS. If the death or condition resulted from an independent cause unrelated to the assault, this section does not apply.
What is the punishment under Section 66 BNS?▼
The punishment is rigorous imprisonment for a term not less than 20 years, which may extend to imprisonment for life (meaning imprisonment for the remainder of that person's natural life), or death.
Does Section 66 BNS prescribe a fine?▼
No. Section 66 BNS prescribes rigorous imprisonment for at least 20 years extending to natural life, or death, and does not provide for a fine.
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·