Injuries: culpable homicide: practice question

A Forensic Medicine question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Forensic Medicine · Injuries: culpable homicide

Sample item

In a sudden quarrel, a man loses his temper and strikes his neighbour with a stick once, without premeditation, and the neighbour dies of a head injury. Which charge is most suitable?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Culpable homicide not amounting to murder, as it occurred in a sudden fight without premeditation

Culpable homicide becomes murder when there is intention to kill, knowledge that death is the probable result, or injury sufficient in the ordinary course to cause death. Exceptions such as grave and sudden provocation, or sudden fight without premeditation and without undue advantage, reduce the offence to culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Option by option

  • A. Accidental death with no liability

    A deliberate blow is not an accident and carries liability.

  • B. Culpable homicide not amounting to murder, as it occurred in a sudden fight without premeditation (correct)

    Sudden fight without premeditation is a recognised exception reducing murder to culpable homicide.

  • C. Murder, since death resulted

    Death alone does not make an act murder; intention or knowledge is required.

  • D. Simple hurt

    Simple hurt is not applicable where death was caused by the blow.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Forensic Medicine question

What is the answer to this Forensic Medicine question?

The best answer is B, Culpable homicide not amounting to murder, as it occurred in a sudden fight without premeditation. Culpable homicide becomes murder when there is intention to kill, knowledge that death is the probable result, or injury sufficient in the ordinary course to cause death.

Why is "Accidental death with no liability" not the answer?

A deliberate blow is not an accident and carries liability.

Why is "Murder, since death resulted" not the answer?

Death alone does not make an act murder; intention or knowledge is required.

Why is "Simple hurt" not the answer?

Simple hurt is not applicable where death was caused by the blow.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Injuries: culpable homicide in Forensic Medicine. Exceptions such as grave and sudden provocation, or sudden fight without premeditation and without undue advantage, reduce the offence to culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Injuries: culpable homicide?

Learn postmortem changes with their timelines, and toxicology as poison, sign, test and antidote. Then use the flashcards and the other Forensic Medicine questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.