Section 20 IPC: “Court of Justice”
Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 20 IPC at a Glance
Section 20 IPC defines the term “Court of Justice”. From 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 2(5) BNS.
None. Section 20 IPC creates no offence.
Section 20 IPC Bare Act Text
20. “Court of Justice”
The words “Court of Justice” denote a Judge who is empowered by law to act judicially alone, or a body of Judges which is empowered by law to act judicially as a body, when such Judge or body of Judges is acting judicially.
IllustrationA Panchayat acting under Regulation VII, 1816, of the Madras Code, having power to try and determine suits, is a Court of Justice.
Source: Section 20, Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 20 IPC in Simple Words
Section 20 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) defines the words Court of Justice. They denote a Judge who is empowered by law to act judicially alone, or a body of Judges empowered by law to act judicially as a body, but only while that Judge or body is acting judicially.
The illustration makes a Panchayat with legal power to try and determine suits a Court of Justice. The section creates no offence and sets no punishment.
Ingredients of Section 20 IPC
- A Judge empowered by law to act judicially alone, or a body of Judges empowered by law to act judicially as a body
- That Judge or body of Judges is acting judicially at the time
Punishment Under Section 20 IPC
None. Section 20 IPC creates no offence.
None.
Section 20 IPC is a definition. It has no entry in the First Schedule to the CrPC.
Example of Section 20 IPC
When Section 20 IPC Does Not Apply
- Section 20 IPC does not apply when a Judge is performing purely administrative duties, such as approving court staff leave, because the Judge is not acting judicially at that moment.
- Section 20 IPC does not apply to a private trade association panel mediating a commercial quarrel, because the panel is not empowered by law to act judicially.
- Section 20 IPC does not apply when a single member of a multi-judge tribunal acts alone without legal authority to sit singly, because the law empowers the members to act judicially only as a body.
Section 20 IPC in the BNS
Section 20 IPC is now covered under Section 2(5) BNS.
Section 2(5) BNS keeps the words of the definition but names the defined term Court, not Court of Justice, and says means where the IPC said denote. The illustration on a Panchayat under the Madras Code is dropped.
View detailed comparison (IPC 20 vs BNS 2(5)) →FAQs on Section 20 IPC
What does Section 20 IPC define?▼
The words Court of Justice. They denote a Judge empowered by law to act judicially alone, or a body of Judges empowered by law to act judicially as a body, while that Judge or body is acting judicially.
Under Section 20 IPC, must the Judge or body be acting judicially at the time?▼
Yes. The section ends with the words when such Judge or body of Judges is acting judicially. A Judge doing administrative work is not a Court of Justice while doing it.
Under Section 20 IPC, can a body that is not a regular court be a Court of Justice?▼
Yes. The illustration makes a Panchayat with power under the Madras Code to try and determine suits a Court of Justice. What counts is the legal power to act judicially.
How does Section 20 IPC relate to Section 19 IPC?▼
Section 19 IPC says who is a Judge. Section 20 IPC builds on it: a Court of Justice is such a Judge acting judicially alone, or a body of Judges acting judicially as a body.
Does Section 20 IPC create an offence?▼
No. It is a definition and sets no punishment. It matters through the sections that use the words, such as Section 174 IPC, which punishes failing to attend in a Court of Justice more heavily than failing to attend before another public servant.
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·