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 for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to $5,000, or with both.
Section history
Section 285 — Causing or contributing to risk of dangerous fire
As in force on 1 January 2020.
[Indian PC 1860, s. 285]
(1)Whoever, with any fire or any thing that is likely to cause fire, rashly or negligently causes or substantially contributes to the risk of causing a fire, shall be guilty of an offence if such fire occurs and any of the following applies:
(a)that fire is likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person;
(b)that fire endangers human life;
(c)that fire causes damage to or diminishes the value or utility of any property belonging to any other person or the Government;
(d)that fire causes hurt or injury to any other person;
(e)that fire causes grievous hurt to any other person;
(f)that fire causes death to any other person.
(2)Any person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (1) 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 18 months, 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 3 years, or with fine, or with both;
(d)in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(e), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 6 years, or with fine, or with both; and
(e)in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(f), with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 7 years, or with fine, or with both.