IPC 322 → BNS 117: Voluntarily Grievous Hurt

Quick Summary: IPC 322 vs BNS 117

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, in force since 1 July 2024, has replaced the colonial-era Indian Penal Code (IPC) 1860. IPC 322 deals with voluntarily grievous hurt, part of the IPC's offences affecting the human body — homicide, hurt, wrongful restraint, criminal force, kidnapping and sexual offences, the largest group in the code. The BNS renumbers voluntarily grievous hurt as BNS 117 and, for several sexual and grievous-hurt offences, enhances the punishment.

What did IPC 322 cover?

IPC 322 dealt with voluntarily grievous hurt — voluntarily causing grievous hurt (definition). Until 30 June 2024, every FIR and criminal trial for this offence was registered and prosecuted under this provision of the Indian Penal Code 1860.

BNS 117: What changed in the new law?

Merged into Section 117. From 1 July 2024, new complaints relating to voluntarily grievous hurt are filed under BNS Section 117, while cases registered earlier continue under the old IPC provision as per the saving clause of the BNS.

Punishment under BNS 117

N/A - Definition

Practical implications for advocates, police & citizens

• Advocates: For voluntarily grievous hurt, the grading of the offence — and therefore bail and forum — turns on intention, the degree of hurt and aggravating factors; map IPC 322 carefully to BNS 117.
• Police officers: Record the nature and degree of injury and the weapon or means used; a new voluntarily grievous hurt FIR is filed under BNS 117.
• Law students & citizens: Punishment for voluntarily grievous hurt rises sharply with the seriousness of the harm and the victim — the IPC 322 to BNS 117 change does not lower it.