Rash navigation of vessel
Section 282 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 deals with rash navigation of vessel. Whoever navigates any vessel in a manner so rash or negligent as to endanger human life, or to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rup The Act came into force on 01 Jul 2024.
Whoever navigates any vessel in a manner so rash or negligent as to endanger human life, or to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees, or with both.
Section 282, The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act 45 of 2023).
Replaces a provision of the Indian Penal Code
IPC 280 Rash navigation of vessel Text carried over almost unchanged 98%
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 The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force.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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rash navigation of vessel. | Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 10,000 rupees, or both. | 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.
-
Shantappa S/o Baburao Nimbago ANR vs The State of Karnataka
Decided under Indian Penal Code 280, which this section replaces. The court did not have this Act before it.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Navigating a vessel with known physical defects (perforations) and overloading it beyond capacity, resulting in death, constitutes a rash and negligent act punishable under Sections 280 and 304A of the IPC.
On this section: Rash navigation of a vessel endangering human life.
-
Shantappa S/o Baburao Nimbago ANR vs The State of Karnataka
Decided under Indian Penal Code 280, which this section replaces. The court did not have this Act before it.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
When a boat operator or vessel owner fails to maintain a vessel in a fit condition, overloads it beyond capacity, and negligently navigates it without taking proper precautions or responding to safety concerns raised by passengers, thereby causing deaths, such conduct constitutes the offense of rash navigation under Section 280 IPC and death by negligence under Section 304A IPC. The 'act of God' defense is not available when the negligence of the operators is the proximate cause of the deaths. The standard of care requires operators to visualize potential dangers arising from vessel unfitness and overloading and to take appropriate preventive measures.
On this section: Rash navigation of a vessel which endangers human life. Applied to establish that the boat was navigated in a negligent manner without verifying its fitness for operation, thereby endangering the lives of passengers.
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 282
What have the courts held on Section 282 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?
Shantappa S/o Baburao Nimbago ANR vs The State of Karnataka (12 Dec 2013) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below, though it was decided under IPC 280, which this section replaced -- the court never mentioned this Act: Rash navigation of a vessel endangering human life. Another 1 judgment on this section is set out below.
Is Section 282 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita bailable?
Bailable, under the First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Is Section 282 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita cognizable?
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 282 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 282, section 282 BNS, section 282 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. People searching for it also type 282 bns act and 282 bns in ipc. 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 Shantappa S/o Baburao Nimbago ANR vs The State of Karnataka (12 Dec 2013).
What should I read with Section 282 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and has it changed?
It carries forward IPC 280 (Rash navigation of vessel), so the judgments decided under that provision are the case law on this one.
When did Section 282 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita come into force?
Section 282 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, cited as BNS 282, 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.