Attempt falls in the category of inchoate crimes. Punishment is the sole objective of criminal law. Punishment is provided after the commencement of the offence but it in certain cases is dispensed within the mere preparation also. Till date, it has no particular rule to rely on while passing the judgement for this offence of attempt. It is only decided on the facts and circumstances of the case and on some theories of attempt. Attempt has no specific definition and is ambiguous because of which every person interprets it accordingly. “The successful revolutionary is a statesman, the unsuccessful one a criminal.”- Erich Fromm.

This paper is an attempt to discuss the insight of section 511 of IPC, which gives power to make attempt punishable under those offences, where the code does not prescribes any punishment for attempt.

Keywords: Attempt, Inchoate crimes, punishment, stages of crimes, theories of attempt.

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