Law Maker

CHAPTER VI OF OFFENCES AFFECTING THE HUMAN BODY · Of hurt

Section 118: Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

(1) Whoever, except in the case provided for by sub-section (1) of section 122, voluntarily causes hurt by means of any instrument for shooting, stabbing or cutting, or any instrument which, used as a weapon of offence, is likely to cause death, or by means of fire or any heated substance, or by means of any poison or any corrosive substance, or by means of any explosive substance, or by means of any substance which it is deleterious to the human body to inhale, to swallow, or to receive into the blood, or by means of any animal, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine which may extend to twenty thousand rupees, or with both.

(2) Whoever, except in the case provided for by sub-section (2) of section 122, voluntarily causes grievous hurt by any means referred to in sub-section (1), shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Corresponding IPC provision

As given in the correspondence table of the National Crime Records Bureau (Ministry of Home Affairs). Read both texts before relying on it. NCRB table

Leading cases

Questions on this section

1 question in 3 of our papers cite Section 118. Try these from the free papers:

  1. 1. Consider the following statements regarding Section 118 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023: 1. Voluntarily causing hurt by means of any animal falls within Section 118(1). 2. Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by any means referred to in Section 118(1) is punishable with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of not less than one year which may extend to ten years, and fine. 3. Section 118(1) applies even where the hurt is caused on grave and sudden provocation within Section 122(1). Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Practise questions on Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita