Section 124Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid, etc.
Chapter VI — Of Offences Affecting the Human Body
Copied from the Official Gazette. Not yet reviewed by a qualified legal professional.
Text of the law
Official text (Gazette) Not yet legally reviewed(1) Whoever causes permanent or partial damage or deformity to, or burns or maims or disfigures or disables, any part or parts of the body of a person or causes grievous hurt by throwing acid on or by administering acid to that person, or by using any other means with the intention of causing or with the knowledge that he is likely to cause such injury or hurt or causes a person to be in a permanent vegetative state shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than ten years but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and with fine:
Provided that such fine shall be just and reasonable to meet the medical expenses of the treatment of the victim:
Provided further that any fine imposed under this sub-section shall be paid to the victim.
(2) Whoever throws or attempts to throw acid on any person or attempts to administer acid to any person, or attempts to use any other means, with the intention of causing permanent or partial damage or deformity or burns or maiming or disfigurement or disability or grievous hurt to that person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than five years but which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation 1.— For the purposes of this section, "acid" includes any substance which has acidic or corrosive character or burning nature, that is capable of causing bodily injury leading to scars or disfigurement or temporary or permanent disability.
Explanation 2.— For the purposes of this section, permanent or partial damage or deformity or permanent vegetative state shall not be required to be irreversible.
Amendments, judgments and appeal information have not been added for this section yet.
Source and checking
- Where this text comes from
- Gazette of India, Extraordinary, No. 53, 25 December 2023 (Act No. 45 of 2023)
- Type of text
- Official text (Gazette)
- Pages in the Gazette
- pp. 40–41
- Text version
- As originally enacted in 2023. This text may not reflect subsequent amendments or commencement notifications. Last status check: 6 November 2026.
- When the Act came into force
- 1 July 2024, under Government notification S.O. 850(E), dated 23 February 2024. Read notification S.O. 850(E) in the Gazette of India (PDF, opens in a new tab)The notification excluded section 106(2); see the note on that section.Whether an excluded provision was brought into force later has not been independently confirmed. Checked against the Gazette on 6 November 2026. Not yet reviewed by a qualified legal professional.
- Checked by computer against the Gazette?
- Yes, words and structure match
- Reviewed by a qualified legal professional?
- Not yet
- Copied on
- 5 Nov 2026
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