IPC §322 → BNS §117
Voluntarily causing grievous hurt
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Comparison
322. Voluntarily causing grievous hurt.—Whoever voluntarily causes hurt, if the hurt which he intends to cause or knows himself to be likely to cause is grievous hurt, and if the hurt which he causes is grievous hurt, is said “voluntarily to cause grievous hurt”. Explanation.—A person is not said voluntarily to cause grievous hurt except when he both causes grievous hurt and intends or knows himself to be likely to cause grievous hurt. But he is said voluntarily to cause grievous hurt, if intending or knowing himself to be likely to cause grievous hurt of one kind, he actually causes grievous hurt of another kind. Illustration A, intending of knowing himself to be likely permanently to disfigure Z's face, gives Z a blow which does not permanently disfigure Z's face, but which causes Z to suffer severe bodily pain for the space of twenty days. A has voluntarily caused grievous hurt.
(1) Whoever voluntarily causes hurt, if the hurt which he intends to cause or knows himself to be likely to cause is grievous hurt, and if the hurt which he causes is grievous hurt, is said "voluntarily to cause grievous hurt".
(2) Whoever, except in the case provided for by sub-section (2) of section 122, voluntarily causes grievous hurt, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
(3) Whoever commits an offence under sub-section (1) and in the course of such commission causes any hurt to a person which causes that person to be in permanent disability or in persistent vegetative state, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years but which may extend to imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person's natural life.
(4) When a group of five or more persons acting in concert, causes grievous hurt to a person on the ground of his race, caste or community, sex, place of birth, language, personal belief or any other similar ground, each member of such group shall be guilty of the offence of causing grievous hurt, and shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
What changedAI-inferred
IPC 322 preserved as BNS 117(1).
Old position
IPC 322 is concerned with Voluntarily causing grievous hurt. Voluntarily causing grievous hurt
New position
BNS 117 preserves the framework with drafting modernisations as required by the new code. Topic: Voluntarily causing grievous hurt. Whoever voluntarily causes hurt, if the hurt which he intends to cause or knows himself to be likely to cause is grievous hurt, and if the hurt which he causes is grievous hurt, is said "voluntarily to cause grievous hurt"
BNS 117 (Voluntarily causing grievous hurt) preserves the framework of IPC 322. BNS 117 retains the operative provisions in substantively the same form, with drafting modernisation and structural updates as required by the new code. BNS 117 text: Whoever voluntarily causes hurt, if the hurt...
Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)
BNS 117 (Voluntarily causing grievous hurt) preserves the framework of IPC 322. BNS 117 retains the operative provisions in substantively the same form, with drafting modernisation and structural updates as required by the new code.
BNS 117 text: Whoever voluntarily causes hurt, if the hurt which he intends to cause or knows himself to be likely to cause is grievous hurt, and if the hurt which he causes is grievous hurt, is said "voluntarily to cause grievous hurt".(2) Whoever, except in the case provided for by sub-section (2) of section 122, voluntarily...
Transitional note (repeal & savings)
For matters initiated before 1 July 2024, IPC 322 continues to apply. For matters from that date forward, BNS 117 applies. The transition is governed by the repeal-and-savings clause in the new code (BNS 358 / BNSS 531 / BSA 170 as the case may be); pending proceedings under the old code carry forward unaffected.
Frequently asked
BNS 117 (Voluntarily causing grievous hurt). The relationship is classified as substantively_same — see the change-note above for the textual delta.
Sources
- India Code — Indian Penal Code, 1860
- Gazette of India — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Cite this page
Newlaws.in, IPC §322 → BNS §117 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-06-12, https://newlaws.in/ipc/322.
Compiled using AI-assisted tools · Source-linked · Last updated 2026-05-01
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