Assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person, otherwise than on grave provocation
Section 133 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 deals with assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person, otherwise than on grave provocation. Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any person, intending thereby to dishonour that person, otherwise than on grave and sudden provocation given by that person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. The Act came into force on 01 Jul 2024.
Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any person, intending thereby to dishonour that person, otherwise than on grave and sudden provocation given by that person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
Section 133, The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act 45 of 2023).
Replaces a provision of the Indian Penal Code
IPC 355 Assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person, otherwise than on grave provocation Text carried over almost unchanged 100%
Measured by comparing the text of the two provisions, not taken from an official correspondence table — there is no machine-readable one. See both texts side by side before relying on it.
Both regimes are live. The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force. We never redirect one to the other.
How this offence is classified
From the First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, which classifies every offence under the Sanhita. Cognizable means a police officer may arrest without warrant; bailable means bail is a matter of right rather than of the court's discretion.
| Offence | Punishment | Cognizable | Bailable | Triable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour a person, otherwise than on grave and sudden provocation. | Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both. | Non-cognizable. | Bailable. | Any Magistrate. |
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
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Devi Lal vs Virendra Singh Chauhan
Decided under Indian Penal Code 355, which this section replaces. The court did not have this Act before it.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
In the absence of any alleged legal infirmity in a summoning order, the High Court will not exercise its discretionary power under Section 482 CrPC to quash criminal proceedings. The accused's grounds of defense and objections to the charges are better addressed before the trial court rather than through premature High Court intervention. The status of the accused as a police officer does not, by itself, provide grounds for quashing the summoning order.
On this section: The substantive criminal charge of criminal intimidation or assault under which the applicant was accused and summoned to trial.
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Sho of Yadiki Ps vs C. Nagalaksahmi
Decided under Indian Penal Code 355, which this section replaces. The court did not have this Act before it.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Criminal complaints involving assault or criminal force under Section 355 IPC can be validly settled through Lok Adalat when both parties mutually agree to such resolution, and such settlement constitutes a valid disposal of the criminal case.
On this section: Section 355 IPC pertains to assault or criminal force not amounting to grievous hurt. The case involves allegations of such conduct by the accused, which formed the basis of the criminal complaint filed by Yadiki Police Station.
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Questions about Section 133
What have the courts held on Section 133 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?
Devi Lal vs Virendra Singh Chauhan (08 Sep 2010) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below, though it was decided under IPC 355, which this section replaced -- the court never mentioned this Act: The substantive criminal charge of criminal intimidation or assault under which the applicant was accused and summoned to trial. Another 1 judgment on this section is set out below. They run from 2010 to 2022.
Is Section 133 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita bailable?
Bailable, under the First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Is Section 133 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita cognizable?
Non-cognizable. "Cognizable" means a police officer may arrest without warrant; "non-cognizable" that they may not. An offence under this section is triable by Any Magistrate.
How do I find court cases under Section 133 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: BNS 133, section 133 BNS, section 133 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 2 reported judgments on this section are set out on this page, beginning with Devi Lal vs Virendra Singh Chauhan (08 Sep 2010).
What should I read with Section 133 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and has it changed?
It carries forward IPC 355 (Assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person, otherwise than on grave provocation), so the judgments decided under that provision are the case law on this one.
When did Section 133 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita come into force?
Section 133 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, cited as BNS 133, came into force on 01 Jul 2024, having been enacted on 25 Dec 2023. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 2. Definitions2199 words
- 356. Defamation1543 words
- 335. Making a false document1318 words
- 101. Murder1177 words
- 303. Theft1104 words
- 3. General explanations858 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.