Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter
Section 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 deals with negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter. Whoever does, with fire or any combustible matter, any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life, or to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person or knowingly or negligently omits to take such order with any fire or any combustible matter in his possession as is sufficient t The Act came into force on 01 Jul 2024.
Whoever does, with fire or any combustible matter, any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life, or to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person or knowingly or negligently omits to take such order with any fire or any combustible matter in his possession as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life from such fire or combustible matter, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, or with both.
Section 287, The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act 45 of 2023).
Replaces a provision of the Indian Penal Code
IPC 285 Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter Text carried over almost unchanged 99%
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 The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force.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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter. | Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine of 2,000 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.
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Deepak Khinchi vs State of Rajasthan
Decided under Indian Penal Code 285, which this section replaces. The court did not have this Act before it.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
When mandatory sanction under Section 7 of the Explosive Substances Act, 1908 is not obtained at the outset and the accused is discharged for that reason, the prosecution must be quashed. However, it is open to the prosecution to initiate fresh prosecution after obtaining valid sanction from the competent authority (District Magistrate post-amendment). A delay in obtaining such sanction, even of several years, does not bar subsequent prosecution if: (a) the sanctioning authority is competent; (b) sanction was never refused by the competent authority; (c) the offence is grave involving significant loss of life and property; and (d) the accused is afforded full opportunity to defend himself. The trial court may accept such retrospectively obtained sanction and proceed with trial, balancing the rights of the accused against the rights of victims and the administration of justice.
On this section: Alternative charges under which the appellant was tried. These sections do not require sanction and therefore the trial under these sections was not affected by the sanction requirement issue.
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 287
What have the courts held on Section 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?
Deepak Khinchi vs State of Rajasthan (30 Apr 2012) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below, though it was decided under IPC 285, which this section replaced -- the court never mentioned this Act: Alternative charges under which the appellant was tried. These sections do not require sanction and therefore the trial under these sections was not affected by the sanction requirement issue.
Is Section 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita bailable?
Bailable, under the First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Is Section 287 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 287 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 287, section 287 BNS, section 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. People searching for it also type bns 287 in ipc. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Deepak Khinchi vs State of Rajasthan (30 Apr 2012).
What should I read with Section 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and has it changed?
It carries forward IPC 285 (Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter), so the judgments decided under that provision are the case law on this one.
When did Section 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita come into force?
Section 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, cited as BNS 287, 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.
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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.