BNS Section 33 — Act causing slight harm

CHAPTER III GENERAL EXCEPTIONS

General

Summary

An act is not an offence just because it causes harm, or is intended to cause harm, or is known to be likely to cause harm, when that harm is so minor that no ordinary person of reasonable sense and temperament would complain about it. In other words, if the harm is trivial enough that a typical person would not bother raising a grievance, the law does not treat the act as a crime.

Official Text

Nothing is an offence by reason that it causes, or that it is intended to cause, or that it is known to be likely to cause, any harm, if that harm is so slight that no person of ordinary sense and temper would complain of such harm.

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 (2025) Vol.6 p.280 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1531 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2024) Vol.8 p.670 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
  • SC (2024) Vol.6 p.129 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
  • SC (2025) Vol.4 p.2730 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.2 p.80 — Supreme Court of India (2025)

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