What Differences between section 76 and 79 of IPC?

Answer 1

Two sections are entirely different in scope and application.

Section 76 reads as : Act done by a person bound, or by mistake of fact believing himself bound, by law

Nothing is an offence which is done by a person who is, or who by reason of a mistake of fact and not by reason of a mistake of law in good faith believes himself to be, bound by law to do it.

(a) A, a soldier, fires on a mob by the order of his superior officer, in conformity with the commands of the law. A has committed no offence.

(b) A, an officer of a Court of Justice, being ordered by that Court to arrest Y, and, after due enquiry, believing Z to be Y, arrests Z. A has Committed no offence.

http://boloindia.org/blog/2010/10/section-76-ipc-act-done-by-a-person-bound-or-by-mistake-of-fact-believing-himself-bound-by-law/

Where as Section 79 reads Act done by a person justified, or by mistake of fact believing himself justified, by law

Nothing is an offence which is done by any person who is justified by law, or who reason of a mistake of fact and not by reason of a mistake of law in good faith, believes himself to be justified by law, in doing it.

A sees Z commit what appears to A to be a murder. A, in the exercise, to the best of his judgment exerted in good faith, of the power which the law gives to all person of apprehending murderers in the fact, seizes Z, in order to bring Z before the proper authorities. A has committed no offence, though it may turn out that Z was acting in self-defence.

Now lets see, Difference between Bound by law and justified by law explains that these sections are applicable in different situations. A policeman is bound by law (section 76) to catch an offender while a private person is justified by law(section 79) to stop a person from committing an offence.