Which is not an offence against the public tranquillity?

Solution (By Examveda Team)

Public tranquillity refers to the state of peace and order in society, free from disturbance or violence.
Offences against public tranquillity are those that disrupt or threaten this peace and order.
Let's examine each option:
Option A: Riot
A riot is a violent disturbance of the peace by three or more persons acting together.
It is explicitly an offence against public tranquillity under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Option B: Affray
An affray is a fight between two or more persons in a public place that causes a disturbance to the public peace.
It directly impacts public tranquillity and is thus an offence against it under the IPC.
Option C: Unlawful assembly
An unlawful assembly is a gathering of five or more persons with a common object that is illegal or involves the commission of an offence.
The very nature of such an assembly is a threat to public order, making it an offence against public tranquillity as per the IPC.
Option D: Assault
Assault, in the context of the IPC, involves causing someone to apprehend the infliction of immediate harm or injury. While assault can certainly cause disturbance, it is primarily considered an offence against the person, not necessarily *directly* against public tranquillity.
An assault might *lead* to a breach of public tranquility (e.g., if it escalates into a riot), but on its own, it doesn't always affect the general peace of the community to the same degree as the other options. Therefore, it is not as clearly an offence *against* public tranquillity as the others.
Therefore, the correct answer is D: Assault.
While assault can be a disturbing event, it is not as directly aimed at disrupting public peace as riot, affray, or unlawful assembly are.