Section 311 IPC: Punishment

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 311 IPC at a Glance

Section 311 IPC sets the punishment for being a thug. It is non-bailable and cognizable, triable by the Court of Session. It has no direct equivalent in the BNS.

Punishment

Imprisonment for life.

Non-Bailable ⓘCognizable ⓘNon-Compoundable ⓘ🏛️ Court of Session ⓘ

Section 311 IPC Bare Act Text

311. Punishment

Whoever is a thug, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.

Source: Section 311, Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 311 IPC in Simple Words

Section 311 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) prescribes the punishment for being a thug. Whoever is a thug is punished with imprisonment for life, and is also liable to fine.

Section 310 IPC defines a thug as a person habitually associated with any other or others for the purpose of committing robbery or child-stealing by means of or accompanied with murder. Under the First Schedule to the Code of Criminal Procedure, the offence is cognizable and non-bailable, and it is triable by the Court of Session.

The offence has no counterpart in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and is repealed.

Ingredients of Section 311 IPC

  • The accused was habitually associated with any other person or persons
  • The association was for the purpose of committing robbery or child-stealing
  • The robbery or child-stealing was to be committed by means of or accompanied with murder
  • The accused answers the definition of a thug under Section 310 IPC

Punishment Under Section 311 IPC

Imprisonment

Imprisonment for life.

Fine

The offender shall also be liable to fine.

Non-Bailable ⓘCognizable ⓘNon-Compoundable ⓘ🏛️ Court of Session ⓘ

Being a thug is punishable with imprisonment for life, and the offender is also liable to fine.

Example of Section 311 IPC

In 2015 in Jhansi, police captured Samar along with his regular associates, Jagdish and Bhushan. At trial, the prosecution proved that over several years after the passing of the Indian Penal Code, Samar had been habitually associated with Jagdish and Bhushan for the purpose of committing robbery accompanied with murder. Operating around rural river crossings, the band repeatedly lured livestock traders into isolated groves, killed them, and took their cash and cattle. Because Samar was a thug as defined in Section 310 IPC, Samar is punishable under Section 311 IPC.

When Section 311 IPC Does Not Apply

  • The accused committed crimes alone or without any habitual association with another person.
  • The accused associated with others for unlawful acts that did not involve robbery or child-stealing.
  • The planned or committed robbery or child-stealing was not carried out by means of or accompanied with murder.

Section 311 IPC in the BNS

Repealed - No equivalent in BNS

Repealed. The BNS has no section punishing a thug, and the official comparison lists Section 311 IPC as deleted. The offence is not carried forward.

FAQs on Section 311 IPC

What did Section 311 IPC provide?▼

It provided that whoever is a thug shall be punished with imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.

What was the punishment under Section 311 IPC?▼

Imprisonment for life, and liability to fine.

How was a thug defined for the purpose of Section 311 IPC?▼

Section 310 IPC defined a thug as a person habitually associated with others for the purpose of committing robbery or child-stealing by means of or accompanied with murder.

Does the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita contain an equivalent of Section 311 IPC?▼

No. The BNS contains no offence of being a thug and no equivalent of Section 311 IPC.

Is Section 111 BNS or Section 112 BNS the replacement for Section 311 IPC?▼

No. Sections 111 and 112 BNS create distinct offences relating to organised crime with different statutory ingredients.

Was an offence under Section 311 IPC bailable?▼

No. It was cognizable and non-bailable under the First Schedule to the Code of Criminal Procedure.

Which court tried an offence under Section 311 IPC?▼

The Court of Session.

Could an offence under Section 311 IPC be compounded?▼

No. It was not listed in Section 320 CrPC.

Where is Section 311 IPC in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?▼

It has no counterpart in the BNS and is repealed.

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Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

Sources: Bare Act Text, Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·