A 35-year-old man committed a serious violent offence. During psychiatric evaluation for legal purposes, he demonstrates clear understanding of the charges and proceedings, can instruct his lawyer, but describes hearing a divine voice ordering the killing at the time of the offence. The court requests a forensic opinion on criminal responsibility. Which medico-legal doctrine is MOST relevant to the defence?
- A M'Naghten rules ✓
- B Durham rule
- C Irresistible impulse test
- D American Law Institute (ALI) standard
Explanation
The M'Naghten rules (1843) form the basis of the insanity defence in Indian law (Section 84, IPC; now Section 22, BNS 2023): a person is not criminally responsible if, at the time of the act, due to a defect of reason from disease of the mind, he either did not know the nature of the act or did not know that it was wrong. Command auditory hallucinations from divine authority directly address knowledge that the act was 'wrong' — the defendant believed divine sanction made it righteous. Note that current fitness to stand trial (understanding proceedings) is a separate and distinct assessment from responsibility at the time of the offence.
Reference: Kaplan & Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry, 11th ed.
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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.