● Modified in BNS
Causing simple hurt by a rash or negligent act that endangers life or personal safety carries up to 6 months' imprisonment under BNS Section 125(a) -- unchanged from IPC 337 -- but the fine ceiling rises tenfold, from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000.
Section 337 IPC punished causing hurt (not grievous) to any person by an act done so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life or personal safety, with imprisonment up to 6 months, or fine up to Rs 500, or both -- distinct from Section 279 (no hurt caused) and Section 336 (endangerment with no hurt at all).
BNS Section 125 merges the old endangerment cluster (Sections 336-338) into one section: a base endangerment clause plus lettered sub-clauses for the hurt and grievous-hurt aggravations. Clause (a), corresponding to Section 337, keeps the 6-month imprisonment term but raises the fine ceiling from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000.
Structurally merged into BNS 125 as clause (a); the only substantive change is the fine ceiling rising from Rs 500 to Rs 5,000 -- imprisonment term, cognizability and bailability carry over unchanged.
Imprisonment of either description up to 6 months, or fine up to Rs 5,000 (up from Rs 500 under the IPC), or both..
IPC 337 is bailable..
This is a cognizable. offence.
Compoundable with the permission of the court, by the person to whom hurt is caused..
Matters under IPC 337 are tried before the Any Magistrate..
Common defences include absence of rashness or negligence in the act, the injury being purely accidental with no endangerment element, and consent or voluntary assumption of risk by the person hurt where applicable.
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