Answer By law4u team
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 - Section 121: Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty
- (1) Whoever voluntarily causes hurt to any person being a public servant in the discharge of his duty as such public servant, or with intent to prevent or deter that person or any other public servant from discharging his duty as such public servant or in consequence of anything done or attempted to be done by that person in the lawful discharge of his duty as such public servant, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.
- (2) Whoever voluntarily causes grievous hurt to any person being a public servant in the discharge of his duty as such public servant, or with intent to prevent or deter that person or any other public servant from discharging his duty as such public servant or in consequence of anything done or attempted to be done by that person in the lawful discharge of his duty as such public servant, shall be punished 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.
Brief Detail
BNS Section 121 addresses the offence of causing hurt or grievous hurt to a public servant while they are performing their duties. If someone inflicts hurt on a public servant or tries to prevent them from fulfilling their duties, they can face imprisonment for up to five years and/or a fine. If grievous hurt is inflicted, the punishment ranges from one year to ten years of imprisonment and a fine.
Question & Answers
Q1: What is the punishment for causing hurt to a public servant under BNS Section 121?
A1: The punishment for causing hurt to a public servant can be imprisonment for up to five years, a fine, or both.
Q2: What are the penalties for causing grievous hurt to a public servant under this section?
A2: Causing grievous hurt to a public servant can result in imprisonment for a term between one year and ten years, and a fine.
Q3: Does the section cover cases where the harm is intended to deter a public servant from their duties?
A3: Yes, the section includes penalties for causing hurt or grievous hurt with the intent to prevent or deter a public servant from discharging their duties.
Q4: What if the harm is caused as a consequence of actions taken by the public servant in their official capacity?
A4: The section covers cases where harm is caused in consequence of the public servant's lawful actions or attempts to perform their duty.
Example
Scenario 1: A person assaults a police officer while the officer is performing their duties. The attacker can be punished with imprisonment for up to five years and/or a fine.
Scenario 2: An individual causes grievous harm to a public servant to prevent them from performing their official duties. The offender may face imprisonment for one to ten years and a fine.
Summary
BNS Section 121 penalizes the act of causing hurt or grievous hurt to public servants, whether to obstruct their duties or as a result of their lawful actions. The severity of the punishment depends on whether the hurt caused is minor or grievous, with penalties ranging from up to five years of imprisonment for hurt to up to ten years for grievous hurt, along with fines.
