Back to Penal Code 1871

Section history

Section 284 — Rash or negligent conduct with respect to dangerous or harmful substance

As in force on 1 January 2020.

Timeline 4 versions
  1. 30 March 1987 Enacted
  2. 1 February 2008 Act 51 of 2007
  3. 1 January 2020 Act 15 of 2019
  4. 17 August 2026 Latest
Amended in force 1 January 2020 by Criminal Law Reform Act 2019
284.Negligent conduct with respect to any poisonous substance

Whoever does, with any poisonous substance, any act 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, or knowingly or negligently omits to take such order with any poisonous substance in his possession as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life from such poisonous substance, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to $5,000, or with both.

[Indian PC 1860, s. 284]

284.Rash or negligent conduct with respect to dangerous or harmful substance

(1)A person shall be guilty of an offence who does, with any dangerous or harmful substance, any act so rashly or negligently as —

(a)to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person;

(b)to endanger human life;

(c)to cause hurt to any other person;

(d)to cause grievous hurt or injury to any other person; or

(e)to cause the death of any other person.

(2)In subsection (1), an act includes an omission to take such measure with any dangerous or harmful substance in a person’s possession as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life, grievous hurt or hurt from such substance.

(3)Any person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) or (2) shall on conviction be punished —

(a)in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(a) or (b), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to $5,000, or with both;

(b)in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(c), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 years, or with fine, or with both;

(c)in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(d), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 6 years, or with fine, or with both; and

(d)in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(e), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 7 years, or with fine, or with both.

(4)In this section, “dangerous or harmful substance” includes fire or any thing or matter that is likely to cause fire.