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THE STATUTE
Original Text
The word 'Queen' shall denote the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, whether the person who, for the time being, is sovereign of the said Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland or the person exercising the rights and authorities of that sovereign under any Regency Act. [Adapted post-independence to mean the Government of India or the relevant State Government.]
Simplified
Section 13 was the IPC's original definition of 'Queen' — a colonial-era provision that defined the sovereign authority of the British Crown whose laws the IPC represented. Post-independence, the Adaptation of Laws Order 1950 substituted 'Government' for 'Queen' wherever it appeared in the IPC, making this section effectively a definitional bridge that now means the Government of India or the relevant State Government. It is primarily of historical significance — demonstrating the colonial origins of the IPC as legislation enacted by a British Crown Parliament to govern British India. The BNS consolidates all definitions in Section 3, removing the colonial 'Queen' reference entirely and using 'Government' throughout.
Legal Evolution
The IPC was enacted by the British Parliament in 1860 under Queen Victoria's reign. References to 'Queen' throughout the code were adapted to mean 'Government' after Indian independence in 1947 via the Adaptation of Laws Order. The BNS's elimination of this provision is part of a broader effort to decolonise India's legal vocabulary.
Practical Scenarios
"All IPC references to 'Queen' — read as 'Government of India' or the relevant State Government post-1950."
Common Queries
The IPC was enacted in 1860 during British colonial rule. After independence in 1947, the Adaptation of Laws Order 1950 substituted 'Government' for 'Queen' — so in practice, Indian courts have always read 'Government' for decades. The BNS formally eliminates this colonial language.