Multiple choice

The doctrine of Necessity has been elaborately considered in the landmark decision of

  1. R vs McNaghten (1843) 8 Eng Rep 718

  2. Basdev vs State of PEPSU AIR 1956 SC 488

  3. R vs Dudley and Stephens (1884) 14 QBD 273

  4. Bimbadar Pradhan vs State of Orissa AIR 1956 SC 469
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

R v Dudley and Stephens (1884) is the foundational case on necessity - shipwrecked sailors killed and ate a cabin boy, and necessity was rejected as a defense to murder. This established that necessity cannot justify taking an innocent life, even to survive.

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