Ranbir Penal Code Explained

Short Title:Ranbir Penal Code
Legislature:Dogra dynasty
Territorial Extent:Jammu and Kashmir
Date Enacted:1932
Date Assented:1932
Date Commenced:1932
Date Repealed:5 August 2019
Status:Repealed
Repealed By:Indian Penal Code

Jammu and Kashmir State Ranbir Penal Code or RPC was the main criminal code applicable in the erstwhile Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Indian Penal Code, applicable elsewhere in India, was not applicable here under Article 370 of the Constitution of India.

It came into force in 1932.[1] The code was introduced during the reign of Maharaja Ranbir Singh and hence named after him.[2] It was made on the lines of Indian Penal Code prepared by Thomas Babington Macaulay. The Parliament of India passed the bill to scrap provisions of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution on 5 August 2019.[3] The constitution of India which was applicable to the rest of India except Jammu and Kashmir, has now become applicable all over India. The state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has got divided into the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh after the successful passage of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Bill in the Rajya Sabha[4] and Lok Sabha[5] respectively. The Ranbir Penal Code was dissolved and the Indian Penal Code came into force in the region. The Indian Penal Code itself was repealed and replaced by Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita in the year 2024.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pasayat. Arijit. Kunti Devi vs Som Raj And Ors on 23 September, 2004. Supreme Court of India. 19 September 2014.
  2. Web site: Singh. Bhim. Bitter realities of political history of J&K. vijayvaani.com. 19 September 2014. 6 February 2010.
  3. Book: Lal Kalla. Krishan. The Literary Heritage of Kashmir. 1985. Mittal Publications. Jammu and Kashmir. 75. 19 September 2014.
  4. Web site: Jammu & Kashmir Reorganisation Bill passed in Rajya Sabha. 5 August 2019.
  5. Web site: Kashmir debate LIVE: LS passes Bill reorganising Jammu and Kashmir. 6 August 2019.