International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

E-ISSN: 2582-2160   •   Impact Factor: 9.24

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Mental Integrity and Criminal Responsibility: Evolution of the Insanity Defence from Moral Philosophy to Constitutional Jurisprudence in India

Author(s) Ms. Nitika Khidtta
Country India
Abstract Mental integrity has evolved from a medical concern into a constitutional and human rights issue grounded in dignity and personal liberty. This paper examines the development of mental health and the insanity defence within criminal law, with particular reference to Indian jurisprudence, situating the subject at the intersection of psychiatry, penology, and constitutional law. The study traces the moral and philosophical foundations of criminal responsibility, emphasizing that punishment presupposes rational understanding and free will. Where an accused lacks the capacity to comprehend the nature or wrongfulness of an act, criminal liability fails to serve the objectives of punishment. The insanity defence thus operates as a principled exception to the requirement of actus reus coupled with mens rea. Historically, the paper contrasts ancient Indian moral absolutism, rooted in concepts of Dharma, with Western legal traditions that gradually recognized mental incapacity as a basis for exemption from punishment. These developments culminated in the M’Naghten Rules, which adopted a narrow cognitive test and continue to influence Indian law through Section 84 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. The paper further analyses the constitutional evolution of mental health under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, where judicial interpretation has recognized mental well-being, autonomy, and dignity as integral to the right to life, underscoring the need for a more humane and contemporary approach to criminal responsibility
Keywords Mental integrity, insanity defense, unsoundness of mind, mental health
Field Sociology > Administration / Law / Management
Published In Volume 8, Issue 1, January-February 2026
Published On 2026-02-28
DOI https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i01.70246
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