IPC § 76 · Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Repealed on 1 July 2024
Section 76 IPC — Act done by a person bound, or by mistake of fact believing himself bound, by law
Replaced from 1 July 2024 by BNS 14 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Offences committed on or before 30 June 2024 are still charged under the IPC.
The law now: BNS 14 — Act done by a person bound, or by mistake of fact believing himself bound, by law
Nothing is an offence which is done by a person who is, or who by reason of a mistake of fact and not by reason of a mistake of law in good faith believes himself to be, bound by law to do it.
Illustrations.
(a) A, a soldier, fires on a mob by the order of his superior officer, in conformity with the commands of the law. A has committed no offence.
(b) A, an officer of a Court, being ordered by that Court to arrest Y, and, after due enquiry, believing Z to be Y, arrests Z. A has committed no offence.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in). The Gazette of India is the authoritative text. BNS 14 in full