IPC Section 334 — Voluntarily causing hurt on provocation

Summary

If a person causes hurt to someone else because of a serious and unexpected provocation, and they did not intend or know that they might hurt anyone other than the person who provoked them, they can be punished with up to one month in prison, or a fine of up to five hundred rupees, or both.

Official Text

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.

Referred to by

• IPC §323 — Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt
• IPC §324 — Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means

Related Judgments

• Vandana Sanwal Shah @; Vandana Sunil Doshi vs The State of Maharashtra & Anr — Bombay High Court (Mumbai Principal Seat) (2026)
• JASWINDER SINGH (DEAD) THROUGH LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE vs NAVJOT SINGH SIDHU & ORS — Supreme Court of India (2022)
• ANWARUL HAQ vs THE STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH — Supreme Court of India (2005)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• BNS §122 — Voluntarily causing hurt or grievous hurt on provocation