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 may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
IPC Section 333: Simplified Explanation
IPC Section 333 of the Indian Penal Code deals with the offence of “voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty.” This section applies when an individual intentionally inflicts grievous hurt on a public servant with the intent to prevent or deter that public servant from discharging their lawful duties. The section aims to provide enhanced protection to public servants against severe physical harm that could obstruct their official functions.
Key elements of this section include:
- Voluntarily Causing Grievous Hurt: The person must intentionally cause severe physical injury to a public servant. Grievous hurt is defined under IPC Section 320 and includes injuries like fractures, permanent disfigurement, and other serious harms.
- Intent to Deter from Duty: The act must be committed to prevent or deter the public servant from performing their lawful duties.
Is IPC Section 333 Bailable?
IPC Section 333 is a non-bailable offence. Due to the serious nature of causing grievous hurt to a public servant to obstruct their duties, the accused must appear before a court to seek bail.
IPC Section 333 Punishment
The Punishment under IPC Section 333 for voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter a public servant from duty includes:
- Imprisonment for a term that may extend to ten years,
- And also liable to a fine.
The Punishment reflects the gravity of the offence and the need to protect public servants from serious physical harm while performing their duties.
Example of IPC Section 333
A real-life example of IPC Section 333 involved a case where a police officer was severely injured while attempting to apprehend a suspect. The suspect, intending to evade arrest, attacked the officer with a sharp weapon, causing multiple fractures and serious injuries. The suspect was charged under IPC Section 333 for intentionally causing grievous hurt to the officer to deter him from his duty. This case underscored the legal protections afforded to public servants and the severe penalties for those who inflict serious harm to obstruct their lawful duties.
