Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks about the origin of the chapter on electoral offenses within the Indian Penal Code, 1860.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The Indian Penal Code, as originally enacted in 1860, did not contain a specific chapter dealing with offenses related to elections.
The offenses relating to elections are contained in Chapter IX-A of the IPC, which includes Sections 171-A to 171-I. This entire chapter was not part of the original code.
It was inserted into the IPC by the Indian Elections Offences and Inquiries Act, 1920. This was a subsequent amendment made to address electoral malpractices like bribery, undue influence, and personation at elections.
Therefore, these offenses were introduced by a subsequent amendment and were not present in the original 1860 code.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The offenses relating to elections were introduced in the IPC by a subsequent amendment.
A glance over all the Sections related to extortion would reveal a clear distinction being carried out between the actual commission of extortion and the process of putting a person in fear for the purpose of committing extortion. Section 383 defines extortion, the punishment therefor is given in Section 384. Sections 386 and 388 provide for an aggravated form of extortion. These sections deal with the actual commission of an act of extortion, whereas Sections 385, 387 and 389 IPC seek to punish for an act committed for the purpose of extortion even though the act of extortion may not be complete and property not delivered. It is in the process of committing an offence that a person is put in fear of injury, death or grievous hurt. Section 387 IPC provides for a stage prior to committing extortion, which is putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt ’in order to commit extortion’, similar to Section 385 IPC. Hence, Section 387 IPC is an aggravated form of 385 IPC, not 384 IPC. Having deliberated upon the offence of extortion and its forms, we proceed to analyze the essentials of both Sections, i.e.,383 and 387 IPC, the High Court dealt with.
(Extracted from Balaji Traders v. State of UP, 2025 INSC 806)