Act endangering life or personal safety of others
What this section does
Punishes rash or negligent acts that endanger human life or the personal safety of others, with escalating penalties depending on whether hurt or grievous hurt is actually caused.
AI-generated plain-language summary. For the binding statutory text, see India Code (official).
Quick reference
- Punishment
- Base offence (no injury): imprisonment of either description up to 3 months, or fine up to ₹2,500, or both. Where hurt is caused: imprisonment up to 6 months, or fine up to ₹5,000, or both. Where grievous hurt is caused: imprisonment up to 3 years, or fine up to ₹10,000, or both.
- Triable by
- Any Magistrate
- Cognizable
- Depends
- Bailable
- Yes
- Compoundable
- Depends
Ingredients (what prosecution must prove)
- Accused did any act rashly or negligently
- Such act endangered human life or the personal safety of others
Practitioner note
The section consolidates three graduated offences (endangerment, hurt, grievous hurt) into a single provision with tiered punishments. The applicable tier depends on the actual consequence of the rash/negligent act.
Derived from IPC s.336, s.337, s.338.
Read the official text
For the binding statutory text of BNS Section 125, refer to the Gazette of India or the India Code official website.
Why this matters
BNS Section 125 forms part of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita which replaced the Indian Penal Code 1860 on 1 July 2024. Any new filing, FIR, charge sheet, or bail application made on or after that date should cite the new section number. References to the old act in legacy documents remain valid for matters that arose before the changeover.