Whoever voluntarily causes hurt on grave and sudden provocation, if he neither intends nor knows himself to be likely to cause hurt to any person other than the person who gave the provocation, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.
IPC Section 334: Simplified Explanation
IPC Section 334 of the Indian Penal Code deals with the offence of “voluntarily causing hurt on provocation.” This section applies when an individual causes hurt to another person. Still, it does so in response to a grave and sudden provocation from the victim. The provocation must be such that it would cause any reasonable person to lose their self-control. This section acknowledges human emotional responses and provides a lesser penalty than causing hurt without provocation.
Key elements of this section include:
- Voluntarily Causing Hurt: The individual must intentionally cause bodily pain, disease, or infirmity to another person.
- Grave and Sudden Provocation: The hurt must be caused as a direct response to the victim’s grave and sudden provocation, leading the individual to lose self-control.
Is IPC Section 334 Bailable?
IPC Section 334 is a bailable offence. Individuals charged under this section can obtain bail from the police station or through the court, depending on the case’s specifics and the authorities’ discretion.
IPC Section 334 Punishment
The Punishment under IPC Section 334 for voluntarily causing hurt on provocation includes:
- Imprisonment for a term that may extend to one month,
- Or with a fine that may extend to five hundred rupees,
- Or with both.
The lighter Punishment reflects the mitigating factor of provocation in committing the offence.
Example of IPC Section 334
A real-life example of IPC Section 334 occurred when a man slapped his neighbour during a heated argument after the neighbour made derogatory comments about his family. The man’s reaction directly resulted from the grave and sudden provocation caused by the neighbour’s comments. The man was charged under IPC Section 334 for causing hurt on provocation. The court took into account the circumstances of the provocation, leading to a lighter sentence, demonstrating how the law recognizes the role of emotional responses in such situations.
