● Modified in BNS
Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means -- instruments of shooting, stabbing or cutting, fire, poison, explosives, corrosive substances, or animals -- is punished under BNS Section 118(1), which keeps the same imprisonment term as IPC Section 324 but, unlike the IPC, makes the offence non-bailable.
Section 324 IPC punished voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means (instruments of shooting/stabbing/cutting, fire, poison, explosives, corrosive substances, animals etc.) with imprisonment up to 3 years, or fine, or both.
BNS Section 118(1) retains the offence with imprisonment up to 3 years, or fine up to ₹20,000, or both. Section 118(2) covers grievous hurt by dangerous weapons: imprisonment for life or 1–10 years, and fine.
Substance retained; renumbered to BNS 118 with a quantified fine and grievous-hurt limb consolidated in the same section.
Imprisonment up to 3 years, or fine up to Rs 20,000, or both. Grievous hurt by the same means (Section 118(2)) draws imprisonment for life or 1 to 10 years, and fine..
IPC 324 is non-bailable -- a notable tightening, since ipc section 324 was bailable..
This is a cognizable. offence.
Non-compoundable..
Matters under IPC 324 are tried before the Any Magistrate..
Common defences include private defence, absence of intention or knowledge that the act was likely to cause hurt, and disputing that the object or substance used meets the definition of a dangerous weapon or means under the section.
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