Indian Penal Code,1860
Act No : 45
Section :
Criminal force.
350. Criminal force.--Whoever intentionally uses force to anyperson, without that person's consent, in order to the committing ofany offence, or intending by the use of such force to cause, orknowing it to be likely that by the use of such force he will causeinjury, fear or annoyance to the person to whom the force is used, issaid to use criminal force to that other. Illustrations (a) Z is sitting in a moored boat on a river. A unfastens themoorings, and thus intentionally causes the boat to drift down thestream. Here A intentionally causes motion to Z, and he does this bydisposing substances in such a manner that the motion is producedwithout any other action on any person's part. A has thereforeintentionally used force to Z; and if he has done so without Z'sconsent, in order to the committing of any offence, or intending orknowing it to be likely that this use of force will cause injury, fearor annoyance to Z, A has used criminal force to Z. (b) Z is riding in a chariot. A lashes Z's horses and therebycauses them to quicken their pace. Here A has caused change of motionto Z by inducing the animals to change their motion. A has thereforeused force to Z; and if A has done this without Z's consent, intendingor knowing it to be likely that he may thereby injure, frighten orannoy Z, A has used criminal force to Z. (c) Z is riding in a palanquin. A, intending to rob Z, seizes thepole and stops the palanquin. Here A has caused cessation of motion toZ, and he has done this by his own bodily power. A has therefore usedforce to Z; and as A has acted thus intentionally, without Z'sconsent, in order to the commission of an offence. A has usedcriminal force to Z. (d) A intentionally pushes against Z in the street. Here A has byhis own bodily power moved his own person so as to bring it intocontact with Z. He has therefore intentionally used force to Z; and ifhe has done so without Z's consent, intending or knowing it to belikely that he may thereby injure, frighten or annoy Z, he has usedcriminal force to Z. (e) A throws a stone, intending or knowing it to be likely thatthe stone will be thus brought into contact with Z, or with Z'sclothes, or with something carried by Z, or that it will strike water,and dash up the water against Z's clothes or something carried by Z.Here, if the throwing of the stone produce the effect of causing anysubstance to come into contact with Z, or Z's clothes, A has usedforce to Z, and if he did so without Z's consent, intending thereby toinjure, frighten or annoy Z, he has used criminal force to Z. (f) A intentionally pulls up a Woman's veil. Here A intentionallyuses force to her, and if he does so without her consent intending orknowing it to be likely that he may thereby injure, frighten orannoy her, he has used criminal force to her. (g) Z is bathing. A pours into the bath water which he knows tobe boiling. Here A intentionally by his own bodily power causes suchmotion in the boiling water as brings that water into contact with Z,or with other water so situated that such contact must affect Z'ssense of feeling, A has therefore intentionally used force to Z; andif he has done this without Z's consent intending or knowing it to belikely that he may thereby cause injury, fear or annoyance to Z, A hasused criminal force.179 (h) A incites a dog to spring upon Z, without Z's consent. Here,if A intends to cause injury, fear or annoyance to Z, he usescriminal force to Z.
