Danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation
Section 283 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 deals with danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation. Whoever, by doing any act, or by omitting to take order with any property in his possession or under his charge, causes danger, obstruction or injury to any person in any public way or public line of navigation, shall be punished, with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees. The Act came into force on 01 Jan 1862. Repealed by section 358 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023) with effect from 1 July 2024, but conduct before that date is still charged, tried and appealed under it.
Whoever, by doing any act, or by omitting to take order with any property in his possession or under his charge, causes danger, obstruction or injury to any person in any public way or public line of navigation, shall be punished, with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
Section 283, The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Act 45 of 1860).
Now in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
BNS 285 Danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation Text carried over almost unchanged 95%
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 The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force.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.
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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B.m.ibrahim Khaleel vs State of Kerala
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
When a prosecution contains charges under multiple sections, some of which require sanction under Section 195 Cr.P.C. and others which do not, the High Court will not quash the entire prosecution under Section 482 Cr.P.C. merely because one section requires sanction. Instead, the petitioner must raise such contentions before the trial court, where the court can properly adjudicate the validity of each charge. The inclusion of a charge under Section 283 IPC for traffic obstruction is justified when the core allegation involves violation of court orders resulting in traffic obstruction, even if such charge was not explicitly mentioned in the original FIR.
On this section: Obstruction of traffic - cited as an additional charge; the court examined whether this charge was properly included
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Sanjeev Khera vs Govt. of N.c.t. of Delhi
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
A criminal charge must be proportionate to the nature of the alleged conduct and must fall within the legislative scope of the criminal provision invoked. When the alleged conduct of parking vehicles causing road obstruction is charged under Section 431 IPC (prescribing five years imprisonment) instead of the appropriate Sections 283 and 290 IPC (prescribing a fine of Rs. 200), the charge is unsustainable in law and the High Court should exercise its inherent powers under Section 482 CrPC to quash such an inappropriate order.
On this section: Court noted that Section 283 IPC is the appropriate provision for the alleged conduct of parking vehicles causing road obstruction; this section prescribes a fine of Rs. 200
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.
Judgments citing this section
These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.
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… as is stated in spot panchanama-Exhibit P3, the truck and trailers were loaded with heavy machineries and some parts of the same were protruded causing obstruction to the vehicles that are coming from behind. Merely, attributing the charge only in respect of negligent aspect as per Section 283 of Indian Penal Code cannot be the sole reason to hold that the deceased rider of motorcycle was negligent to an extent of 50% in causing the alleged accident, so also, on the basis of charge leveled against Sections 279 and 304A of Indian Penal Code. He submits that the approach and reasoning of the Tribunal is not …
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… as is stated in spot panchanama-Exhibit P3, the truck and trailers were loaded with heavy machineries and some parts of the same were protruded causing obstruction to the vehicles that are coming from behind. Merely, attributing the charge only in respect of negligent aspect as per Section 283 of Indian Penal Code cannot be the sole reason to hold that the deceased rider of motorcycle was negligent to an extent of 50% in causing the alleged accident, so also, on the basis of charge leveled against Sections 279 and 304A of Indian Penal Code. He submits that the approach and reasoning of the Tribunal is not …
Questions about Section 283
What have the courts held on Section 283 of the Indian Penal Code?
B.m.ibrahim Khaleel vs State of Kerala (16 Jul 2007) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Obstruction of traffic - cited as an additional charge; the court examined whether this charge was properly included. Another 1 judgment on this section is set out below. They run from 2006 to 2007.
How do I find court cases under Section 283 of the Indian Penal Code?
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: IPC 283, section 283 IPC, section 283 of the Indian Penal Code. People searching for it also type ipc 283 in bns and ipc 283 punishment. 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 B.m.ibrahim Khaleel vs State of Kerala (16 Jul 2007).
What should I read with Section 283 of the Indian Penal Code, and has it changed?
For anything done on or after 1 July 2024 the provision to read is BNS 285 (Danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation), which replaced it; conduct before that date is still charged, tried and appealed under this section.
When did Section 283 of the Indian Penal Code come into force?
Section 283 of the Indian Penal Code, cited as IPC 283, came into force on 01 Jan 1862, having been enacted on 06 Oct 1860. It is no longer in force.
Other sections of this Act
- 499. Defamation1512 words
- 464. Making a false document1223 words
- 300. Murder1172 words
- 378. Theft980 words
- 108. Abettor745 words
- 403. Dishonest misappropriation of property727 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. Recovered from the consolidated text published by India Code (item 7b7d4fe6-206b-4e33-81f1-b98b018acaf6). This page is not a substitute for legal advice.