When an offence is committed by means of several acts, whoever intentionally co-operates in the commission of that offence by doing any one of those acts, either singly or jointly with any other person, commits that offence"
Illustrations
a A and B agree to murder Z by severally and at different times giving him small
doses of poison" A and B administer the poison according to the agreement with
intent to murder Z" Z dies from the effects the several doses of poison so
administered to him" Here A and B intentionally cooperate in the commission of
murder and as each of them does an act by which the death is caused, they are
both guilty of the offence though their acts are separate"
b A and B are joint jailors, and as such have the charge of Z, a prisoner,
alternatively for six hours at a time" A and B, intending to cause Z's death,
knowingly co-operate in causing that effect by illegally omitting, each during
the time of his attendance, to furnish Z with food supplied to them for that
purpose" Z dies of hunger" Both A and B are guilty of the murder of Z"
c A, a jailor, has the charge of Z, a prisoner" A, intending to cause Z's death,
illegally omits to supply Z with food; in consequence of which Z is much reduced
in strength, but the starvation is not sufficient to cause his death" A is
dismissed from his office, and B succeeds him" B, without collusion or
co-operation with A, illegally omits to supply Z with food, knowing that he is
likely thereby to cause Z's death" Z dies of hunger" B is guilty of murder, but,
as A did not co-operate with B" A is guilty only of an attempt to commit murder"
32 IPC Words referring to acts include illegal omissions
34 IPC Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention
36 IPC Effect caused partly by act and partly by omission
37 IPC Co-operation by doing one of several acts constituting an offence
38 IPC Persons concerned in criminal act may be guilty of different offences