Bhool Bhulaiya: Delhi HC's "Lack of Intent" Ruling

Sunehra, did you dekho the recent Delhi HC case? In February 2024, a 35-year-old woman was arrested for abandoning her 2-month-old daughter at a hospital. She claimed she was mentally unstable. The court ultimately let her go, citing that she didn't have the intention to abandon her child. This, in simple words, is about "actus reus" vs. "mens rea" in jurisprudence. Actus reus refers to the wrongful act itself, while mens rea is the guilty mind behind it. In this case, the court chose to focus more on mens rea and found that the woman didn't have the necessary intention to commit a crime. Kya socha, the court's decision highlights the complexities of the Indian Penal Code and how judges sometimes use judicial discretion to interpret the law.