BNS Section 129 — Criminal force

Summary

A person uses criminal force when they intentionally use force on another person without that person's consent, either to commit an offence, or with the intention of causing, or knowing it is likely to cause, injury, fear, or annoyance to that person.

Illustration (a): A boat is moored on a river with Z sitting in it. A unfastens the moorings, causing the boat to drift downstream. This counts as using force on Z because A intentionally caused motion to Z by arranging things so that the motion happened without any direct action on Z. If A did this without Z's consent, to commit an offence, or intending or knowing it would cause injury, fear, or annoyance, A has used criminal force.

Illustration (b): Z is riding in a chariot, and A lashes the horses, making them go faster. This counts as using force on Z because A caused a change in Z's motion by making the animals move faster. If A did this without Z's consent, intending or knowing it would injure, frighten, or annoy Z, A has used criminal force.

Illustration (c): Z is riding in a palanquin, and A, intending to rob Z, seizes the pole and stops the palanquin. This counts as using force on Z because A caused Z's motion to stop using his own bodily power. Since A acted intentionally, without Z's consent, to commit an offence, A has used criminal force.

Illustration (d): A intentionally pushes against Z in the street. This counts as using force on Z because A moved his own body into contact with Z. If A did this without Z's consent, intending or knowing it would injure, frighten, or annoy Z, A has used criminal force.

Illustration (e): A throws a stone, intending or knowing it is likely to come into contact with Z, Z's clothes, or something Z is carrying, or to splash water onto Z's clothes or belongings. If the stone causes any substance to touch Z or Z's clothes, A has used force on Z. If A did this without Z's consent, intending to injure, frighten, or annoy Z, A has used criminal force.

Illustration (f): A intentionally pulls up a woman's veil. This counts as intentionally using force on her. If A does this without her consent, intending or knowing it is likely to injure, frighten, or annoy her, A has used criminal force.

Illustration (g): Z is bathing, and A pours boiling water into the bath. A intentionally causes the boiling water to move into contact with Z, or with water that will affect Z's sense of feeling. This counts as intentionally using force on Z. If A did this without Z's consent, intending or knowing it would cause injury, fear, or annoyance, A has used criminal force.

Illustration (h): A incites a dog to spring upon Z without Z's consent. If A intends to cause injury, fear, or annoyance to Z, A has used criminal force.

Official Text

Whoever intentionally uses force to any person, without that person’s consent, in order to the committing of any offence, or intending by the use of such force to cause, or knowing it to be likely that by the use of such force he will cause injury, fear or annoyance to the person to whom the force is used, is said to use criminal force to that other.

Illustrations.

(a) Z is sitting in a moored boat on a river. A unfastens the moorings, and thus intentionally causes the boat to drift down the stream. Here A intentionally causes motion to Z, and he does this by disposing substances in such a manner that the motion is produced without any other action on any person’s part. A has therefore intentionally used force to Z; and if he has done so without Z’s consent, in order to the committing of any offence, or intending or knowing it to be likely that this use of force will cause injury, fear or annoyance to Z, A has used criminal force to Z.

(b) Z is riding in a chariot. A lashes Z’s horses, and thereby causes them to quicken their pace. Here A has caused change of motion to Z by inducing the animals to change their motion. A has therefore used force to Z; and if A has done this without Z’s consent, intending or knowing it to be likely that he may thereby injure, frighten or annoy Z, A has used criminal force to Z.

(c) Z is riding in a palanquin. A, intending to rob Z, seizes the pole and stops the palanquin. Here A has caused cessation of motion to Z, and he has done this by his own bodily power. A has therefore used force to Z; and as A has acted thus intentionally, without Z’s consent, in order to the commission of an offence. A has used criminal force to Z.

(d) A intentionally pushes against Z in the street. Here A has by his own bodily power moved his own person so as to bring it into contact with Z. He has therefore intentionally used force to Z; and if he has done so without Z’s consent, intending or knowing it to be likely that he may thereby injure, frighten or annoy Z, he has used criminal force to Z.

(e) A throws a stone, intending or knowing it to be likely that the stone will be thus brought into contact with Z, or with Z’s clothes, or with something carried by Z, or that it will strike water and dash up the water against Z’s clothes or something carried by Z. Here, if the throwing of the stone produce the effect of causing any substance to come into contact with Z, or Z’s clothes, A has used force to Z, and if he did so without Z’s consent, intending thereby to injure, frighten or annoy Z, he has used criminal force to Z.

(f) A intentionally pulls up a woman’s veil. Here A intentionally uses force to her, and if he does so without her consent intending or knowing it to be likely that he may thereby injure, frighten or annoy her, he has used criminal force to her.

(g) Z is bathing. A pours into the bath water which he knows to be boiling. Here A intentionally by his own bodily power causes such motion in the boiling water as brings that water into contact with Z, or with other water so situated that such contact must affect Z’s sense of feeling; A has therefore intentionally used force to Z; and if he has done this without Z’s consent intending or knowing it to be likely that he may thereby cause injury, fear or annoyance to Z, A has used criminal force.

(h) A incites a dog to spring upon Z, without Z’s consent. Here, if A intends to cause injury, fear or annoyance to Z, he uses criminal force to Z.

Related Judgments

• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.11 p.291 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2024) Vol.8 p.670 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
• SC (2025) Vol.6 p.280 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2024) Vol.6 p.129 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1531 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.7 p.105 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.9 p.283 — Supreme Court of India (2025)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• IPC §350 — Criminal force