Section 179: Prohibition of causing death by grave provocation or in heat of passion

1) Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 177 or178, a person who causes the death of another person in any of the following circumstances shall be liable to a sentence of imprisonment for a term of ten to fifteen years and a fine of one hundred thousand to one hundred fifty thousand rupees:

(a) Where the offender, while being deprived of the power of self-control by grave and sudden provocation, causes the death of the person who gave such provocation,

Provided that this clause shall not apply to the following circumstances:

(1) Where the offender is provoked by anything done in obedience to the law or in the exercise of the right of private defence or anything done or intended to be done by a public servant in the exercise of his or her official duties,

(2) Where the offender himself or herself gives provocation to another with intent to do harm to any one and anything done by that other person upon being so provoked causes the death of any person.

(b) Where the offender in the exercise in good faith of the right of private defence exceeds the limit of such power and causes the death of the person against whom he or she is exercising such right of private defence,

(c) Where death is caused instantly in the heat of passion upon a sudden quarrel,

Provided that while doing any act referred to in this clause, the offender must not have taken an undue advantage or acted in a cruel or unusual manner.

2)  Notwithstanding anything contained in clauses (b) and (c) of sub-section (1), the provisions contained in these clauses shall not be applicable to any case of murder committed with premeditation or deliberate afterthought.