Published on November 2025 | criminal liability, actus reus, mens rea, Indian Penal Code (IPC),

CONTOURS OF CRIMINAL LIABILITY AND SOCIETAL TRANSFORMATION IN INDIA: A DOCTRINAL AND SOCIOLEGAL STUDY OF CONTEMPORARY CRIME LAWS

The law of crimes in India constitutes a dynamic intersection of moral philosophy, social control, and constitutional governance. Rooted in the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC), Indian criminal jurisprudence has evolved from colonial codification to a complex structure balancing individual liberty with collective security. This paper critically analyses the general principles of criminal liability—actus reus and mens rea—and examines how doctrines of abetment, conspiracy, and attempt extend culpability beyond direct offenders. It studies the application of general exceptions that humanize criminal justice by recognizing incapacity,