Bankimchandra Chatterjee

HPEÌPOmPFcPFÓLçLdPL cPFiôPOApPOLADPFzAbPL (1838-94 LçLKPQ)

1838 LçLKPQêPLAi¡PrP 26 jULnPL cPFE¢PSPF pPOLrPgPONPArP aÙPOgPOYtPO kPPÿAVPFAlPpPOLAwxPFA çLgPFAimPF HPEÌPOmPFcPFÓLçLdPL cPFiôPOApPOLADPFzAbPL jPLÓOLÉPçLgPFhPFNP kPPirPnPL| aAvhPFnPL pPOLwxPFHPArP jPLnPLz içpPOLEsPFiwPOEÓOLsLP kPPilPijPL BPOEtPOY hPFnPL ePHPM 1857 LçLKPQêPLAi¡P isPFKPAnPL iTPikPP çpPOLTPmPF EHPBPOAigPO ePnPLæWvPFAÓOLsLP pPOLrPQ¾PPA pPOLASPF kPPirPnPL| 1858 LçLKPQêPLAi¡P nPLtUOnPL ëPOAEpPOLtPO kPPElPkPPAtPOA EHPSL÷PEHPdPLzAlPibPLrP çpPOLTPmPF EHP. eP. pPOLrPQ¾PPAbPL HPEÌPOmPFcPFÓLçLdPL EªPtPOQbPL EHPBPOAigPO çpPOLTPmPF ëPOAnPL aEDPFkPPArP kPPirPnPL| aAvhPFnPL pPOLwxPFA iSPFXP hPFoPFbPLArP aAigPOvhPF yPiSPFAirPrP iwPOFpOLUEWvPF mPFzAEjPLiãOFWvPFWvPF oPF iwPOFpOLUEWvPF kPPAilPÁPOirPrP cPFAkPPErP pPOLAnPL| itPOEÀeOL`SPF HPCPFrP sPFrPkPPAErP cPFAkPPErP kPPrPArP pPOLrP 1891 LçLKPQêPLAi¡PrP 14 isPFiàLWvPFÈ÷PrP HPEÌPOmPFcPFÓLçLdPL aHPsPFrP çLgPFhPFNP kPPirPnPL| 1894 LçLKPQêPLAi¡PrP 8 ePEçpPOLlP tPOÿArP mFÖtUOz hPFbPL|

HPEÌPOmPFcPFiÓLçLdPLrP jPLQHPnPL dPLQGPLY nPLbPL, tPOArPvhPF mPFiDPFz tPOÿArP sPFAEhPFtPOz sPFADPFnPLA EHPãPFÉPbPLkPPrP| hUFgPOElP kPPilPijPL CPFAÀeOL` jPLQHPinPL EtPOEnPL ISL÷PrPcPFÓLçLdPL gOUiâPLrP rPcPFnPLArP aAdPLiSPFY 'sPFMHPAdPL çpPOLBPOAkPPirP' oPF 'sPFMHPAdPL sPFADFUrPÑPinPL' gPOdPLz, pPOLdPLz ElPKPitPOnPL| 42 HPCPFirPrP sPFAEhPFtPOzsPFADPFnPLA tPOÿArP CPFAÀeOL`jPLQHPnPL, kPPmPFYjPLQHPnPL, iSPFXPjPLQHPnPL pPOLyPYÙPO HPzAâPL ECPFlP| 'dLUigPOYSPFnPLEÓOdPnPLQ' wvPOpPOLnPLzAisPFrP sPFiËP sPFiËP tPOÿArP sPFAEhPFtPOz jPLQHPinPLrP aArPÆPF| ePvhPF wvPOpPOLnPLzAsPF EdPLibPLvhPF HPEÌPOmPFcPFÓLçLdPL ePkPP nPLtUOnPL EdPLgPOÙPO KLUilP DPFrPilPnPL| HPAÊPFAlPQrP irPAmPFAEÓFWvPFkPP sPFÀoP`LArP ePkPP nPLtUOnPL jPLAgPOrPNP GPLWvPFilPA HPEÌPOmPFcPFiÓLçLdPLrP rPcPFnPLArP EtPOnPLEWvPF wvPOpPOLnPLzAsPF EdPLibPL- 'dLUigPOYSPFnPLEÓOdPnPLQ' (1865 LçLKPQ), 'kPPpPOLAlPkFUOLÕPLlPA' (1866 LçLKPQ), ePHPM 'mFÖNPAElPnPLQ' (1869 LçLKPQ)|

HPEÌPOmPFcPFiÓLçLdPLrP mPFDPFzyUigPOrP rPcPFnPLAbPL idPLKPA yPAbPL isPF´ÓOdPyPY oPF ilPAkPPESPF¾PPArP EmPFlPnPL| iSPFXP yUigPO ilPAkPPESPF¾PPArP çpPOLADPFAnPLz| HPEÌPOmPFcPFiÓLçLdPLrP çpPOLEtPOBPOArP iSPFXP pPOLyPYAibPL FpOLZNPYBPOAiHP çpPOLkPPASPF ipPOLlP ãO÷PAidPLESPFkPPtPOA oPF anFUSPFQlPnPL DPFimPFYrP HPzAKPzA| idPLiSPFrP rPAæFêPLQbPL, jPLAtPOQbPL, DPFmPFYQbPL, sPFAmPFAEjPLkPP oPF ESPF¾PPAmFZlPkPP wvPOnÔPEtPOrP sPFHP rPkPPmPF çpPOLbPLAisPF EtPOEnPL aEHPrPAmPF ilPKPnPLQ cPFAlPnPLA kPPirPiCPFnPL| HPEÌPOmPFcPFÓLçLdPL ikPPHPlPmPFAÀeOL` sPFAEhPFEtPOzkPP HPA ilPKPkPP nPLnPL, wvPOpPOLrPÙUO EtPOEnPL yUgPO`çLsLPLêPLA| eýEtPOhPFAEsPFkPP, irPAmPFAEÓFWvPFkPP, pPOLAErPHPAErPkPP - ePvhPF EtPOnPL DPFArPAbPL wvPOðsPFAErPtPO HPEÌPOmPFcPFiÓLçLdPLrP aAKPzAnPLgOUElP sPFmPFsPFAmPFEbPLkPP oPF pPOLrPHPtPOYQ sPFAEhPFtPOz oPF jPLQHPinPLrP oPFpPOLrP apPOLErPsPFQmPF çpPOLBPOAHP EHPéPFArP kPPirPiCPF| HPEÌPOmPFcPFÓLçLdPL sPFÈOLpPOLikPPY EHPéPFAErPtPO jPLAnPLitPO hPFilP ePvhPFKPAinPL E`ÂFkPPkPP kPPrPqnPL|

HPzAËP kPPirP iHPSPF EkPPCUF hPFAlPkPPA ilPKPAoPF HPEÌPOmPFcPFÓLçLdPL ElPiKPiCPFnPL| ePyUigPOrP pPOLAVPFkPPrPA isPFgOUElP kPPtPOWvPFA wvPOpPOLiBPOAgPO kPPrPiHPnPL HPlPA SPFÀoPLÝ| sPFmPFibPLrP sPFiËP sPFiËP aAmPFAidPLrP EcPFÙPOADPFArPA, rPqEcPF oPF mFZlPziHPAiDPFrP ainPLkPP pPOLErPHPtPOYnPL GPLiWvPFiCPF| ePvhPF mPFÙPOHPz nPLQicPFrP ilPKPAEWvPF sPFÈOLpPOLikPPYoPF çpPOLiyPAjPLz| ePEWvPF HPEÌPOmPFcPFÓLçLdPL ElPiKPECPFilPnPL idPLiSPF iyPBPOAiHP aAvhPFnPL iyPBPOAiHP ElPEpPOLHPªPì kPPrPA hPFbPL, isPFvhPF kPPAVPFAimPFAEWvPF HPjPLAbPL irPiKP| ilPKPAEWvPF hPFrPifPO kPPirP pPOLAEVPFibPLiCPFnPL FpOLUiäOpPFÓOdLUsFUÓOdPrP mFUiKPApPOLADPFzAbPL|

dPLAÈOLpPOLtPOz dPLLÕPLEHPEDPFrP aAvhPFnPL (1) (2) (3) (4)

aAmPFrPA ãFíPLQjPLAEtPO, EnPLrPQhPF BPOAlPmPFAnFUXP HPElPbPLA aAEjPL kPPAElP aAmPFEdPLigPOrP wvPOpPOLrP HPwxPF atPOzAcPFArP hPFvhPFitPOiCPF| FpOLUrPqiXPrP eP¾PPiNP HPwxPF ãPOpPOLDPFYA hPFvhPFbPLAiCPF, BPOoÀÖOLYgPONP ãFíPLQikPP aArP mPFAinPL nPLA, ãFíPLQilPAkPPEdPLigPOrP FpOLUrPAtPOnPL ãO÷PÀoFüOL sPFkPPlP lUâPL hPFvhPFitPOiCPF, ikPPhPFvhPF aArP ãFíPLQrP aA¸PPArP HPSPFHPtPOYQ nPLihPF| ePvhPF sPFkPPlP EHPXPibPLrP sFUEnPLbPLmPF kPPErPHPArP jPLnPLz aAmPFrPA ãFíPLQãO÷PÀoFüOLrPE¾PPNPQ sPFBPOA sPFMëPOAEpPOLtPOA kPPErPbPLAECPF| isPF sPFBPOArP pPOLErPcPFbPL yPEdPL sPFADPFArPiNP sPFEHPiSPFXP aHPgPOtPO nPLA TPAikPPnPL, tPOiHP tPOAhPFArP EHP¸PPApPOLnPLQ pPOLåcPFAð çpPOLkPPASPF kPPErPHP| eP¾PPiNP HPÀoPLÝHPz ePvhPF iyP, aAmPFAEdPLigPOrP ãO÷PÀoFüOLrP¾PPATPY ePkPPEWvPF EHPiSPFXP sPFdLUpPOLAbPL hPFvhPFbPLAiCPF| aAmPFrPA eP EHPXPibPL BPOArPtPOHPXPYQbPL gPOHPimPFYi×FWvPF aAiHPdPLnPLpPOLÀeOL` içpPOLrPNP kPPErPbPLAECPF| ePHPM tPOðsPFmPFEBPOHPzAhPFAirP BPOoÀÖOLYSPFAsPFnPLATPY ePkPPEWvPF dPLAÈOLpPOLtPOz dPLLÕPLEHPEDPFrP aAvhPFinPLrP pPOLALÕUFElPEpPOL içpPOLrPNP kPPErPbPLAECPF|

sPFkPPilPrP ãO÷PÀoFüOLrP¾PPAiTPY iyPKPAinPL çpPOLtPOzhPF aAvhPFinPLrP sFÖEêPL hPFvhPFitPOiCPF, isPFKPAinPL aAmPFAidPLrP EcPFrPÙPOnPL ãO÷PÀoFüOL rP¾PPATPY ikPPAnPL aAvhPFnPL hPFbPL nPLA ikPPnPL? atPOePHP ePvhPF aAvhPFnPL sPFñPLirP pPOLAsPF hPFvhPFiHP, ePvhPF kPPAmPFnPLAbPL ãO÷PAEmPFgPONPikPP aHPgPOtPO kPPErPHPArP jPLnPLz aAEmPF tPOAhPFA HPËPdPLSPFYinPL çpPOLcPFArP kPPErPlPAmPF| ainPLkPP HPAHUilPAkPP HPAËPAlPAitPO aAvhPFnPL BPOAlP HUEJPFitPO pPOLAirPnPL nPLA, EHPiSPFXPtPOß aAvhPFinPLrP HPAËPAlPA anFUHPAdPL sPFcPFrPAcPFrP BPOAlP hPFbPL nPLA, ePHPM aAvhPFnPL aAidPL´ vhPFMrPAEjPLitPOvhPF çpPOLNPQtPO hPFvhPFbPLAECPFlP, ePHPM vhPFhPFArP HPAËPAlPA anFUHPAdPLEWvPF BPOAlP hPFbPL nPLAvhPF, ëPOAinPL ëPOAinPL vhPFMrPAEjPLrP sPFiËP vhPFhPFArP çpPOLiBPOdPL aAiCPF| atPOePHP aAmPFrPA vhPFMrPAEjPL HPAËPAlPA dLUvhPF pPOLAVPFAvhPFlPAmPF| BPOrPsPFA kPPErP HPËPdPLSPFYnPLkPPArPkPP ePkPPHPArP aAmPFAEdPLigPOrP anFUirPAiDPF vhPFMrPAEjPLrP çpPOLEtPO EHPrPAgPO tPOzAgPO kPPErPbPLA vhPFMrPAEjPLsPFimPFtPO ePvhPF aAvhPFnPL çpPOLcPFArP kPPErPiHPnPL| sPFkPPilPvhPF idPLEKPiHPnPL iyP, ePvhPF aAvhPFnPLEWvPFitPO nFUtPOnPL EkPPCUF nPLAvhPF; sPFAiHPkPP Lex non scriptaa @, ikPPHPlP ElPEpPOLHPªPì hPFvhPFbPLAiCPF mPFAÀeOL`|

`çLSPFQmPFEtPO anFÖtPOsFUÓOdPrPQ dPLAsPFQ
ãFíPLQãO÷PÀoFüOLrPE¾PPNPQ sPFBPOArP sPFÈOLpPOLAEdPLkPPA

THE MATRIMONIAL PENAL CODE

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

Whereas it is expedient to provide a special penal code for the coercion of refractory husbands and others who dispute the supreme authority of Woman, it is hereby enacted as follows:

1. This Act shall be entitled the “Matrimonial Penal Code” and shall take effect on all natives of India in the married state.

dPLAÈOLpPOLtPOz dPLLÕPLEHPEDPFrP aAvhPFnPL

çpPOLTPmPF aDPFzAbPL

BZOEmPFkPPA

ãFíPLQEdPLigPOrP aHPADPFz ãO÷PAmPFQ çpPOLBÖOEtPOrP sFUSPFAsPFinPLrP jPLnPLz ePkPP EHPiSPFXP aAvhPFnPL kPPrPA wvPOEcPFtPO, ePvhPF kPPArPNP EnPLimÔ`OLrP ElPEKPtPOmPFtPO aAvhPFnPL kPPrPA igPOlP|

1 DPFArPA| ePvhPF aAvhPFnPL 'dPLAÈOLpPOLtPOz dPLLÕPLEHPEDPFrP aAvhPFnPL' nPLAimPF KPzAtPO hPFvhPFiHP BPOArPtPOHPXPYQbPL iyP ikPPAnPL idPLSPFQ EHPHPAEhPFtPO FpOLUrPqiXPrP wvPOpPOLrP vhPFhPFArP EHPDPFAnPL KPAEWvPFiHP|

CHAPTER II

DEFINITIONS

2. A Husband is a piece of moving and moveable property at the absolute disposal of a woman.

ILLUSTRATIONS.
( a ) A trunk or a workbox is not a husband, as it is not moving, though a moveable piece of property.
( b ) Cattle are not husbands, for though capable of locomotion, they can not be at the absolute disposal of any woman, as they often display a will of their own.
( c ) Men in the married state, having no will of their own, are husbands.

3. A wife is a woman having the right of property in a husband.

EXPLANATIONS
The right of property includes the right of flagellation.

4. “The married state” is a state of penance into which men voluntarily enter for sins commited in a previous life.

EªPtPOQbPL aDPFzAbPL

sPFADPFArPNP sPFM¸PPA

2 DPFArPA| ikPPAnPL ãFíPLQilPAikPPrP sPFÈOFpOLZNPY aDPFQnPL iyP sPFcPFlP aëPOAHPrP sPFÈOLpPOLEÀoP`L, tPOAhPFAikPP sPFÈOLpPOLEÀoP`L HPlPA yPAbPL|

wvPOdPLAhPFrPNP
(kPP) HPA½P itPOArPËP çpPOLBÖOEtPOikPP ãO÷PAmPFQ HPlPA yPAbPL nPLA, ikPPnPL nPLA, yPEdPLoPF isPF sPFkPPlP aëPOAHPrP sPFÈOLpPOLEÀoP`L HPiWvPF, tPOTPAEpPOL sPFcPFlP nPLihPF|
(KP) igPOArPq HPACUFrPoPF ãO÷PAmPFQ nPLihPF, ikPPnPL nPLA, yPEdPLoPF igPOArPq HPACUFrP sPFcPFlP HPiWvPF EkPPÙUO tPOAhPFAidPLrP ePkPPWvUF iãO÷P©CPFAmPFitPO kPPAyPY kPPErPHPArP ¾PPmPFtPOA aAiCPF| sFUtPOrPAM tPOAhPFArPA ikPPAnPL ãFíPLQilPAikPPrP sPFÈOFpOLZNPY aDPFQnPL nPLihPF|
(g ) EHPHPAEhPFtPO FpOLUrPXPrPAvhPF iãO÷P©CPFADPFQnPL ikPPAnPL kPPAyPY kPPErPitPO pPOLAirPnPL nPLA, ePjPLnPLz igPOArPq HPACUFrPikPP ãO÷PAmPFQ nPLA HPElPbPLA EHPHPAEhPFtPO FpOLUrPqXPEdPLgPOikPPvhPF ãO÷PAmPFQ HPlPA yPAvhPFitPO pPOLAirP|

3 DPFArPA| iyP ãO÷PAmPFQrP wvPOpPOLrP iyP ãFíPLQilPAikPPrP sPFÈOLpPOLEÀoP`L HPElPbPLA ãO÷PÀoP`L aAiCPF, isPFvhPF ãFíPLQilPAkPP isPFvhPF ãO÷PAmPFQrP pPOLóPQ HPA ãFíPLQ|

HPzAKPzA
sPFÈOLpPOLEÀoP`L HPElPbPLA yPAhPFArP wvPOpPOLrP ãO÷PÀoP`LAEDPFkPPArP TPAikPP, tPOAhPFAikPP mPFArPEpPOLWvPF kPPErPHPArPoPF ãO÷PÀoP`LAEDPFkPPArP TPAEkPPiHP|

4 DPFArPA| FpOLZHPYjPLÓOLÉPkFÖOtPO pPOLAipPOLrP jPLnPLz FpOLUrPqiXPrP çpPOLAbPLEåcPFÀoP`LEHPiSPFXPikPP EHPHPAhPF HPilP|

CHAPTER III

OF PUNISHMENTS

5. The punishments to which offenders are liable under the provisions of this code are:

First- IMPRISONMENT.

which may be either within the four walls of a bed-room, or within the four walls of a house.

Imprisonment is of two descriptions, namely,
( 1 ) Rigorous, that is accompanied by hard words.
(2 ) Simple

Secondly, Transportation, that is to another bed-room.
Thirdly, Matrimonial servitude.
Fourthly, Forfeiture of Pocket- money

6. “Capital Punishment”, under this code, means that the wife shall run away to her paternal roof, or to some other friendly house, with the intention of not returning in a hurry.

7. The following punishments are also provided for minor offences.
First, contemptuous silence on the part of the wife.
Secondly, Frowns.
Thirdly, Tears and lamentations.
Fourthly, Scolding and abuse.

tÖOtPOQbPL aDPFzAbPL

dPLiLÕPLrP kPPTPA

5 DPFArPA| ePvhPF aAvhPFinPLrP EHPDPFAnPLmPFitPO apPOLrPADPFQEdPLigPOrP EnPLmÔ`OLElPEKPtPO dPLLÕPL hPFvhPFitPO pPOLAirP:

EªPtPOQbPL| SPFyPzAÙPOrP içpPOLrPNP HPA SPFyPzAgOÖhPFAÙPOrP içpPOLrPNP|

tÖOtPOQbPL| pPOLóPQrP dPLAsPFñPL|

cPFtUOTPY| sPFÈOLpPOLEÀoP`LdPLLÕPL, aTPYAð EnPLjPLKPrPicPFrP WvPFAkPPA HPÓ÷Pì|

6 DPFArPA| ePvhPF aAvhPFinPL 'çpPOLANPdPLLÕPL' aiTPY HUJPFAvhPFiHP iyP, ãFíPLQ HPAipPOLrP HPAwxPFQ, EkPP BPOAvhPFibPLrP HPAwxPFQ cPFElPbPLA yPAvhPFiHPnPL, `çLSPFQçLGPF aAEsPFitPO cPFAEhPFiHPnPL nPLA|

7 DPFArPA| ¾FUOædP ¾FUOædP apPOLrPAiDPFrP jPLnPLz EnPLmÔ`OLElPEKPtPO dPLLÕPL hPFvhPFitPO pPOLAirP|

çpPOLTPmPF| mPFAnPL|

EªPtPOQbPL| ¦ìkFUOEWvPF|

cPFtUOTPY| EtPOrPãFFkPPArP oPF gPOAElP|

(ÀePÝmPFSPFß)