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 three years, or with fine, or with both.
IPC Section 332: Simplified Explanation
IPC Section 332 of the Indian Penal Code deals with the offence of “voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty.” This section applies when an individual intentionally causes hurt to a public servant with the intent to prevent or deter that public servant from discharging their lawful duty. The section aims to protect public servants from physical harm that could obstruct their work.
Key elements of this section include:
- Voluntarily Causing Hurt: The person must intentionally inflict physical pain, disease, or infirmity on a public servant.
- Intent to Deter from Duty: The act must be done to prevent or deter the public servant from performing their lawful duties.
Is IPC Section 332 Bailable?
IPC Section 332 is a non-bailable offence. Due to the seriousness of obstructing a public servant from their duty through physical harm, the accused must appear before a court to seek bail.
IPC Section 332 Punishment
The Punishment under IPC Section 332 for voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from duty includes:
- Imprisonment for a term that may extend to three years,
- or with a fine,
- Or with both.
The severity of the Punishment reflects the importance of protecting public servants from physical harm and ensuring they can perform their duties without interference.
Example of IPC Section 332
A real-life example of IPC Section 332 involved a case where a traffic police officer was assaulted by a motorist whom the officer had stopped for a traffic violation. The motorist, in an attempt to avoid a fine and prevent the officer from carrying out his duties, physically attacked the officer, causing injuries. The motorist was arrested and charged under IPC Section 332 for voluntarily causing hurt to deter the public servant from performing his duty. This case highlighted the legal protections for public servants and the consequences of attempting to obstruct their duties through violence.
