35 exam-style questions on this chapter, written from the actual legal text and tagged for UPSC, Judiciary and CLAT. Five are shown below with answers and explanations — the rest are in the free interactive drill.
Q1 · easy · IPC S.493
Which of the following correctly states the essential elements of the offence under Section 493 IPC?
- A.A man, by deceit, causes a woman (who is not lawfully married to him) to believe she is lawfully married to him and to cohabit or have sexual intercourse with him in that belief.✓ correct
- B.Any person who induces a woman to cohabit with him, whether by deceit or otherwise.
- C.A man who has sexual intercourse with a woman not lawfully married to him, regardless of belief or deceit.
- D.A woman who is induced by deceit to believe she is lawfully married to a man.
Why: Section 493 penalises every man who, by deceit, causes any woman not lawfully married to him to believe she is lawfully married to him and to cohabit or have sexual intercourse with him in that belief. The provision requires both deceit and the woman's belief leading to cohabitation or intercourse.
Read Section 493 — Cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage →Q2 · easy · IPC S.493
What is the maximum punishment prescribed by Section 493 IPC for the offence?
- A.Imprisonment for life
- B.Imprisonment up to seven years and fine
- C.Imprisonment (either description) for a term which may extend to ten years, and fine✓ correct
- D.Only a monetary fine
Why: The section states punishment as imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and the offender shall also be liable to fine. Thus the maximum term specified is ten years plus fine.
Read Section 493 — Cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage →Q3 · medium · IPC S.493
If a woman mistakenly believes she is lawfully married to a man but that belief was not caused by any deceit on the man's part, can the man be punished under Section 493 IPC?
- A.Yes — the man's liability does not depend on who caused the belief.
- B.No — the section requires the belief to have been caused by deceit by the man.✓ correct
- C.Yes — any cohabitation with a woman not lawfully married to him is punishable.
- D.No — the offence applies only when the woman is already lawfully married to someone else.
Why: Section 493 specifically penalises a man who 'by deceit causes' a woman to believe she is lawfully married and to cohabit or have sexual intercourse in that belief. If the belief was not caused by deceit by the man, the statutory requirement is not met.
Read Section 493 — Cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage →Q4 · medium · IPC S.493
Does Section 493 IPC apply when the woman is lawfully married to another person (i.e., married, but not lawfully married to the man who deceives her)?
- A.No — the section applies only to women who are unmarried.
- B.No — a woman lawfully married to someone else is excluded from the section.
- C.Yes — the section applies because it requires the woman to be 'not lawfully married to him', which is satisfied if she is married to another person.✓ correct
- D.Yes — but only if the other marriage is void.
Why: The provision refers to 'any woman who is not lawfully married to him', so a woman lawfully married to another person would still be 'not lawfully married to him'. Therefore the section can apply in that situation if the other ingredients (deceit and cohabitation in that belief) are present.
Read Section 493 — Cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage →Q5 · hard · IPC S.493
A man initially cohabits with a woman without deceiving her. Later he deceitfully induces her to believe they are lawfully married, and she thereafter continues to cohabit with him in that belief. On the text of Section 493 IPC, which is correct?
- A.Section 493 applies because the deceit caused the woman to believe and to cohabit in that belief (including continued cohabitation).✓ correct
- B.Section 493 does not apply because the deceit did not cause the initial cohabitation.
- C.Section 493 applies only if all cohabitation began after the deceitful inducement.
- D.Section 493 never applies where any cohabitation predates the deceit.
Why: The section punishes a man who 'by deceit causes' a woman to believe she is lawfully married to him and 'to cohabit or have sexual intercourse with him in that belief.' If the deceit causes her belief and she then cohabits (or continues to cohabit) in that belief, the statutory elements are satisfied even if some cohabitation preceded the deceit.
Read Section 493 — Cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage →30 more questions on Offences Relating To Marriage
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