Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The term "homicide" is the root word for various offences against the human body in criminal law, such as murder and culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Its precise definition is foundational to understanding these offences.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The word "homicide" is derived from Latin terms:
- homo, which means 'man' or 'human'.
- caedere, which means 'to cut' or 'to kill'.
In legal parlance, homicide means the act of one human being causing the death of another human being.
- Options (A) and (B) describe suicide, which is self-killing.
- Option (D), the killing of a human by an animal, is not homicide.
- Option (C) accurately captures the legal definition.
Homicide itself is not always unlawful. It can be lawful (e.g., in self-defense) or unlawful (culpable homicide). Culpable homicide is further divided into murder (Section 300, IPC) and culpable homicide not amounting to murder (Section 299, IPC).
Step 3: Final Answer:
Homicide means the killing of a human being by another human being.
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)