First: His own body, and the body of any other person, against any offence affecting the
human body;
Secondly: The
property, whether movable or immovable, of himself or of any other
person, against any act which is an offence falling under the definition of theft, robbery,
mischief or criminal trespass, or which is an attempt to commit theft, robbery, mischief or
criminal trespass.
98. Right of private defence against the act of a person of unsound mind, etc.: When
an act, which would otherwise be a certain offence, is not that offence, by reason of
the youth, the want of maturity of understanding, the unsoundness of mind or the
intoxication of the person doing that act, or by reason of any misconception on the part of
that person, every person has the same right of private defence against that act which he
would have if the act were that offence.
Illustrations
(a) Z, under the influence of madness, attempts to kill A; Z is guilty of no offence, but A
has the same right of private defence which he would have if Z were sane.
(b) A enters by night a house which he is legally entitled to enter. Z in good faith, taking A
for a house-breaker, attacks A. Here Z by attacking A under this misconception, commits
no offence. But A has the same right of private defence against Z, which he would have if
Z were not acting under that misconception.
99. Act against which there is no right of private defence: There is no right of private
defence against an act which dose not reasonably cause the apprehension of death
or of grievous hurt, if done, or attempted to be done by a public servant acting in good
faith under colour, of his office, though that act may not be strictly justifiable by law.
There is no right of private defence against an act which dose not reasonably
cause the apprehension of death or of grievous hurt, if done, or attempted to be done, by
the direction of a public servant acting in good faith under colour of his office though that
direction may not be strictly justifiable by law.
There is no right of private defence in cases in which there is time to have recourse to the
protection of the public authorities.
Extent to which the right may be exercised : The right of private defence in no
case extends to the inflicting of more harm than it is necessary to inflict for the purpose of
defence.
Explanation 1 :A person is not deprived of the right of private defence against an act done,
or attempted to be done, by a public servant, as such, unless he knows, or has reason
to believe, that the person doing the act is such public servant.