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Section 133: Assault or Criminal Force with Intent to Dishonour Person

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita • Chapter VI: Of Offences Affecting the Human Body • Official Statutory Text & Legal Guide

Chapter VI: Of Offences Affecting the Human Body
Any Magistrate
Bailable
Non-Cognizable
Formerly Sec 355 IPC
Section 132 All 358 Sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 134

Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 133

Section 133 penalizes assault or use of criminal force to any person, intending thereby to dishonour that person, otherwise than on grave and sudden provocation, prescribing imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or fine, or both.

  • Intent to Dishonour: Inflicted with the specific intention of humiliating or dishonouring the victim in public (e.g. shoe-beating, blackening face, garlanding with slippers).
  • Absence of Provocation: Committed otherwise than on grave and sudden provocation.
  • Protection of Social Dignity: Punishes vigilante kangaroo court punishments and caste or public humiliations (formerly Section 355 IPC).
Key Landmark Precedents:
  • State of U.P. v. Ram Swarup (1974) 4 SCC 764: Examined assaults committed to humiliate rivals, affirming that deliberate acts of social dishonour warrant aggravated custodial sentencing under Section 355 IPC (Section 133 BNS).
  • Rupan Deol Bajaj v. K.P.S. Gill (1995) 6 SCC 194: Reiterated that assaults striking at human dignity and public modesty carry heightened penal culpability.
Courtroom Practice & Strategic Litigation Guidance:

In village disputes or mob harassment incidents where victims are paraded or publicly blackened, charge under Section 133 BNS alongside Section 189/191 BNS: proving the specific intent to dishonour enhances bail resistance.

Section 132 All 358 Sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 134