§ 323A — Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt which causes grievous hurt

323A. Whoever voluntarily causes hurt, if the hurt which he intends to cause or knows himself to be likely to cause is not grievous, but the hurt which he actually causes is grievous, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 5 years, or with fine which may extend to $10,000, or with both.Illustration

At a club, A notices one of A’s friends fighting with Z. A runs towards Z and punches Z in the face intending or knowing himself to be likely to cause minor injuries to Z’s face. Z loses his balance, falls and hits his head against a ledge. Z suffers from severe brain injuries and is permanently paralysed. A did not intend to cause grievous hurt but A’s action has actually caused grievous hurt to Z.

[15/2019]