Article 20 – Constitution of India 

Article 20 – Constitution of India 

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Article 20 – Protection in respect of conviction for offences

Bare Act Text

(1) No person shall be convicted of any offence except for violation of a law in force at the time of the commission of the act charged as an offence, nor be subjected to a penalty greater than that which might have been inflicted under the law in force at the time of the commission of the offence.

(2) No person shall be prosecuted and punished for the same offence more than once.

(3) No person accused of any offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.

Explanation in Simple Language

Article 20 protects individuals from retrospective criminal liability, double punishment, and self-incrimination.

Illustrations

A person cannot be punished under a criminal law enacted after the act was committed.

Important Case Laws

• Nandini Satpathy v. P.L. Dani
• Maqbool Hussain v. State of Bombay

Practical Notes

This Article applies only to criminal proceedings.

FAQs

Q. Does Article 20 apply to civil cases?
A. No, it applies only to criminal offences.

Article 20 – Constitution of India 

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