Report Scams
For a Better India
Updating protected services for a safer Bharat. Jai Hind.
General Provisions
If the provoking offence doesn't fall within Section 38's categories, the right of private defence of the body doesn't extend to voluntarily causing death, but does extend (under Section 37's restrictions) to causing any harm short of death.
For lesser threats not on Section 38's serious list, self-defence is still permitted, but lethal force specifically is not - you can respond with proportionate non-lethal force, but not with deadly force, for threats below that specific severity threshold.
Defending against a minor, non-life-threatening assault permits reasonable non-lethal defensive force under this section, but wouldn't justify using lethal force, since the threat doesn't meet Section 38's more serious threshold.