BNS Section 325: Mischief by killing or maiming animal (formerly IPC 428 and IPC 429)
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · in force from 1 July 2024
BNS 325: Mischief by killing or maiming animal
From 1 July 2024
Whoever commits mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless any animal shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.
What it replaced in the IPC
BNS 325 ← IPC 428 · Mischief by killing or maiming animal of the value of ten rupeesChanged
BPR&D's comparison records a change. Read what changed before relying on the old wording.
What changed, per BPR&D: The upper limit of imprisonment is increased from two years to five years. Scope is expanded greatly by amending it to “any animal”.
Printed in both official correspondence tables (BPR&D and NCRB).
Whoever commits mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless any animal or animals of the value of the ten rupees or upwards, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
BNS 325 ← IPC 429 · Mischief by killing or maiming cattle, etc., of any value or any animal of the value of fifty rupeesChanged
BPR&D's comparison records a change. Read what changed before relying on the old wording.
What changed, per BPR&D: The upper limit of imprisonment is increased from two years to five years. Scope is expanded greatly by amending it to “any animal”.
Printed in both official correspondence tables (BPR&D and NCRB).
Whoever commits mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless, any elephant, camel, horse, mule, buffalo, bull, cow or ox, whatever may be the value thereof, or any other animal of the value of fifty rupees or upwards, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, or with fine, or with both.
Which one applies
An offence is governed by the law in force when it was committed. An offence committed before 1 July 2024 is charged and punished under the IPC; one committed on or after that date, under the BNS. Section 358 of the BNS, which repeals the IPC, preserves every liability and proceeding already incurred under it.
Read BNS section 358 →Judgments decided under IPC 428
They remain the law on IPC 428. Where the provision changed in the move, read what changed before relying on one for an offence after 1 July 2024.
Sources
- Correspondence Table and Comparison Summary of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 to the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Bureau of Police Research & Development, Ministry of Home Affairs, page 33.
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023: bare Act with Corresponding Section Table, National Crime Records Bureau (Sankalan), page 65.
- The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Act 45 of 1860), as amended, India Code, Legislative Department, Ministry of Law and Justice.
BPR&D is the Bureau of Police Research & Development (Ministry of Home Affairs); NCRB the National Crime Records Bureau. Their correspondence tables are training aids, not law. This page is general information, not legal advice on any case; the bare Acts as published by the Government of India are the authority.