The library
Law sections
The sections behind your situation, in plain language.
Criminal Law
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) — Laws related to crimes, offences and punishments
- BNS 100 — MurderIf someone intentionally kills another person or causes injuries that lead to death, it is considered murder under this section.
- BNS 105 — Culpable Homicide not amounting to MurderWhen someone causes death but without full intention or premeditation, it falls under culpable homicide — a less severe charge than murder.
- BNS 115 — Voluntarily Causing HurtIf you intentionally cause physical pain or injury to someone, you commit the offence of voluntarily causing hurt.
- BNS 117 — Voluntarily Causing Grievous HurtCausing serious injuries like fractures, permanent disfigurement, or damage to vital organs is considered grievous hurt and carries heavier punishment.
- BNS 303 — TheftTaking someone's belongings without their permission and with dishonest intent is theft.
- BNS 308 — ExtortionThreatening someone to force them to give you money or property is extortion.
- BNS 316 — Criminal Breach of TrustWhen someone is trusted with property or money and misuses it for personal benefit, they commit criminal breach of trust.
- BNS 318 — CheatingDeceiving someone to get their money or property through lies or false promises is cheating.
- BNS 351 — Criminal IntimidationThreatening someone with harm to scare them or force them to do something is criminal intimidation.
- BNSS 173 — Information to Police (FIR Registration)When you report a cognizable crime (like theft, fraud, assault) to the police, they MUST register an FIR. You can give oral or written information. The police must write it down and give you a free copy. This is your legal right — police cannot refuse to file an FIR for cognizable offences.
- BNSS 174 — Investigation by Police OfficerAfter registering an FIR, the police must investigate the case. They can visit the crime scene, collect evidence, record statements, and arrest suspects without needing a court order for cognizable offences.
- BNS 329 — Criminal TrespassEntering someone's property without permission with the intent to commit a crime, threaten, insult, or annoy the person living there is criminal trespass. This applies to land, houses, and any occupied property.
- BNS 75 — Sexual HarassmentAny unwelcome sexual behaviour towards a woman — including touching, demanding sexual favours, showing pornography, or making sexual remarks — is sexual harassment. This is a criminal offence separate from workplace harassment under POSH Act.
- BNS 356 — DefamationSaying or publishing false things about someone to damage their reputation is defamation. It can be spoken (slander) or written (libel).
Family Law
Laws relating to marriage, divorce, custody, maintenance and inheritance
- Hindu Marriage Act 5 — Conditions for Hindu MarriageFor a Hindu marriage to be valid, both parties must meet minimum age requirements (21 for groom, 18 for bride), be of sound mind, not be in an existing marriage, and not fall within prohibited relationships.
- Hindu Marriage Act 13 — Grounds for DivorceA husband or wife can file for divorce if the other spouse has committed adultery, been cruel, deserted for 2+ years, converted to another religion, is of unsound mind, has a communicable disease, or has renounced the world.
- Hindu Marriage Act 13B — Mutual Consent DivorceBoth husband and wife can jointly file for divorce if they have been living separately for at least one year and mutually agree that the marriage cannot continue. There is a 6-month cooling-off period.
- Hindu Marriage Act 24 — Maintenance Pendente Lite (During Court Proceedings)During divorce or other court proceedings, if one spouse has no income, the court can order the other spouse to pay for living expenses and legal costs.
- Domestic Violence Act 3 — Definition of Domestic ViolenceDomestic violence covers not just physical beating but also verbal abuse (insults, humiliation), emotional abuse (threats), sexual abuse, and economic abuse (not providing money, controlling finances). It applies to wives, mothers, sisters, and any woman in a shared household.
- Dowry Prohibition Act 3 — Penalty for Giving or Taking DowryBoth giving and taking dowry is illegal in India. Anyone who gives, takes, or helps in giving or taking dowry can be punished. This includes cash, property, or valuable gifts demanded as a condition for marriage.
- Dowry Prohibition Act 4 — Penalty for Demanding DowrySimply demanding dowry — even if not received — is a crime. If the groom's family asks for money, gifts, or property as a condition for marriage, they can be punished. This also covers post-marriage dowry harassment.
- Guardians and Wards Act 7 — Child Custody — Welfare of ChildIn custody disputes, the court's primary concern is what is best for the child. Factors include age, health, education, and the child's preference (if old enough). Generally, mothers get custody of young children.
Property Law
Laws relating to property ownership, transfer, rent, and disputes
- Transfer of Property Act 54 — Sale of Immovable PropertySelling land or buildings requires a registered sale deed. Oral agreements or unregistered documents are not valid for property transfer.
- Transfer of Property Act 106 — Duration and Termination of LeaseIf there is no lease agreement, a monthly tenancy can be ended by giving 15 days' notice before the end of the month. For yearly leases, 6 months' notice is required.
- RERA 18 — Delay in Possession by BuilderIf a builder fails to deliver your flat on time, you have the right to either withdraw from the project and get a full refund with interest, or continue and get compensation for the delay.
- Registration Act 17 — Documents Requiring Compulsory RegistrationAny document that transfers property ownership, creates a lease for more than 11 months, or involves a gift of property must be registered at the Sub-Registrar's office to be legally valid.
Consumer Law
Consumer Protection Act — Rights of buyers and complaint procedures
- Consumer Protection Act 2(9) — Consumer RightsAs a consumer, you have 6 basic rights: safety from harmful products, full information about products, freedom to choose, right to complain, right to get compensation, and right to consumer education.
- Consumer Protection Act 35 — Filing Consumer ComplaintYou can file a complaint at: District Commission (up to Rs. 50 lakh), State Commission (Rs. 50 lakh-2 crore), or National Commission (above Rs. 2 crore). Complaints can be filed online at edaakhil.nic.in.
- Consumer Protection Act 84 — Product LiabilityIf a product causes harm or injury, the manufacturer, seller, and service provider can all be held responsible. You can claim compensation for damages caused by defective products.
- Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules E-Commerce — E-Commerce Consumer ProtectionOnline shopping platforms must show accurate product details, cannot charge hidden fees, must allow easy returns and refunds, must display grievance officer details, and cannot use dark patterns to mislead consumers.
Cyber Law
IT Act and BNS provisions for cybercrimes, online fraud, and digital offences
- IT Act 66 — Computer Related Offences (Hacking)Hacking into someone's computer, stealing data, introducing viruses, or damaging computer systems is a criminal offence under this section.
- IT Act 66C — Identity TheftUsing someone else's password, digital signature, or online identity without permission is identity theft — a serious cybercrime.
- IT Act 66D — Cheating by Personation using ComputerImpersonating someone online to cheat others — like creating fake profiles, phishing emails, or pretending to be a bank official — is punishable.
- IT Act 67 — Publishing Obscene Material OnlineSharing obscene or sexually explicit content online without consent is a criminal offence. This includes sharing intimate images of someone without their permission (revenge porn).
- BNS 319 — Cheating by Personation (Online Fraud)Online fraud where someone pretends to be someone else — like fake customer care calls, phishing links, or impersonating officials — falls under this section of BNS.
Constitutional Law
Fundamental Rights and key constitutional provisions every citizen should know
- Constitution of India 14 — Right to EqualityEvery person in India is equal before the law. The government cannot discriminate against anyone. This means same rules apply to everyone regardless of status.
- Constitution of India 19 — Right to FreedomYou have the right to speak freely, protest peacefully, form groups, travel anywhere in India, live anywhere, and choose any profession. These rights have reasonable restrictions.
- Constitution of India 21 — Right to Life and Personal LibertyThis is the most important fundamental right. It includes the right to live with dignity, right to privacy, right to livelihood, right to clean environment, and right to free legal aid. No one can take away your life or freedom without following the law.
- Constitution of India 22 — Protection Against Arrest and DetentionIf you are arrested: (1) Police must tell you why, (2) You can call a lawyer, (3) You must be taken to a judge within 24 hours, (4) You cannot be held longer without court permission.
Labour Law
Employment laws, wages, working conditions, and employee rights
- Code on Wages 3 — Minimum WagesEvery employer must pay at least the government-notified minimum wage. The minimum wage varies by state and type of work. Paying less than minimum wage is illegal.
- Code on Wages 17 — Timely Payment of WagesYour employer must pay your salary on time — monthly salary by 7th of next month, weekly wages by end of week. Delayed payment is a legal violation.
- Payment of Gratuity Act 4 — Gratuity PaymentIf you work for 5 or more years in a company, you are entitled to gratuity when you leave. Calculation: 15 days' wages for every completed year of service.
- POSH Act 2 — Prevention of Sexual Harassment at WorkplaceAny unwanted sexual behaviour at workplace — including comments, touching, messages, or jokes — is sexual harassment. Every company with 10+ employees must have an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC).
Money & Banking
Cheque bounce, loan recovery, unauthorized transactions, and banking disputes
- NI Act 138 — Cheque Bounce / Dishonour of ChequeIf someone gives you a cheque and it bounces (gets dishonoured by the bank due to insufficient funds or any other reason), it is a criminal offence. You must send a legal notice within 30 days of the cheque bouncing. If the person doesn't pay within 15 days of receiving the notice, you can file a criminal complaint in court.
- NI Act 141 — Cheque Bounce — Offences by CompaniesIf a company issues a cheque that bounces, the directors and officers in charge of the company can be held personally liable. This means the complainant can file a case against the company and its responsible directors both.
- RBI Guidelines FPC — Loan Recovery — Fair Practices CodeBanks and loan companies (NBFCs) cannot harass you for loan recovery. Recovery agents cannot call you before 8 AM or after 7 PM, abuse or threaten you, contact your family or friends, publicly shame you, or use physical force. If they do, you can complain to RBI and file a police complaint.
- BNS 316/318 — Banking Fraud — Unauthorized TransactionsIf money is deducted from your bank account without your permission — through ATM fraud, credit card fraud, debit card fraud, or unauthorized online transactions — you can file a complaint with the bank and also lodge an FIR. Banks must resolve unauthorized transaction complaints within 10 working days under RBI rules.