● Retained in BNS
Rash or negligent driving on a public way that endangers human life or is likely to cause injury carries up to 6 months' imprisonment or a fine up to Rs 1,000, or both -- identical under BNS Section 281 to the old IPC 279. It is a bailable, cognizable offence tried before any Magistrate.
Section 279 IPC punished driving or riding on a public way in a manner so rash or negligent as to endanger human life, or likely to cause hurt to another, with imprisonment of either description up to 6 months, or fine up to Rs 1,000, or both. It criminalises the manner of driving itself, independent of whether any actual injury resulted.
BNS Section 281 reproduces Section 279 word for word -- same imprisonment term, same Rs 1,000 fine ceiling. It is one of the few provisions where the BNS did not raise the fine amount.
Unchanged in substance. Text, punishment, fine amount and classification are all identical to the old IPC 279 -- a straight renumbering.
Imprisonment of either description up to 6 months, or fine up to Rs 1,000, or both..
IPC 279 is bailable..
This is a cognizable. offence.
Non-compoundable..
Matters under IPC 279 are tried before the Any Magistrate..
Common defences include disputing that the manner of driving was actually rash or negligent, sudden mechanical failure or an unavoidable emergency not attributable to the driver, and absence of any real danger to human life or safety on the facts.
Summaries are for general information and are not legal advice. For the authoritative bare-act text, see the official Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Indian Penal Code, 1860 (full amended text, as it stood before repeal) on India Code, or the Ministry of Home Affairs' new criminal laws page. ← All comparisons