This article is written by Ms. TANYA, a student of BA.LLB From GITARATTAN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOL, ROHINI.

The Author is a 3rd year Law student.

 

 

Introduction 

Grievous hurt refers to a serious and grievous injury caused to a person that can

 result in permanent physical disability, disfigurement, or even death. It is a legal 

term used to describe a type of harm that is more severe than a simple injury but 

falls short of causing death.

 

Grievous hurt is often defined in the context of criminal law and is used to 

differentiate between different degrees of harm caused to a person. The severity of 

the injury is a critical factor in determining the degree of punishment, with more 

severe injuries resulting in more severe penalties.

 

In some jurisdictions, grievous hurt is also referred to as “serious bodily injury” or 

“Great bodily harm.” This type of harm may be caused intentionally, such as in 

cases of assault or battery, or it may be caused unintentionally, such as in cases of 

negligence or reckless behaviour.

 

DETAILS OF THE CONCEPT

 

Grievous hurt refers to a type of harm that is more severe than a simple injury but 

falls short of causing death. The precise definition of grievous hurt varies by 

jurisdiction, but it typically refers to an injury that causes permanent physical 

disability or disfigurement, endangers life, or causes severe pain or suffering.

 

In criminal law, the severity of the injury is a critical factor in determining the 

degree of punishment. In some jurisdictions, grievous hurt is classified as a 

separate offense from simple assault or battery, and the punishment may be more 

severe.

 

Examples of grievous hurt may include:

 

Severe burns

 

Broken bones

 

Loss of limbs or permanent disability

 

Brain damage or other types of serious head injury

 

Internal injuries such as damage to organs or internal bleeding

 

Severe scarring or disfigurement

 

Eye injuries resulting in blindness

 

The degree of punishment for grievous hurt will depend on a variety of factors, 

such as the severity of the injury, the intent of the offender, and the victim’s age or

 vulnerability. In some cases, the offender may be charged with a separate offense, 

such as aggravated assault or attempted murder, if the harm was particularly severe 

or if the offender had a specific intent to cause harm.

 

Grievous hurt is a serious offense in criminal law that involves causing significant 

harm to another person. It is typically classified as a more severe form of assault or 

battery, and the degree of punishment varies based on the specific jurisdiction and 

circumstances of the case.

 

In many jurisdictions, grievous hurt is defined as any injury that causes substantial 

pain, disfigurement, or impairment to a person’s physical or mental health. This 

may include injuries that result in permanent disabilities, such as paralysis or the 

loss of a limb, or injuries that cause severe scarring or disfigurement.

 

The intent of the offender is also an important factor in determining the degree of 

punishment for grievous hurt. In cases where the offender intended to cause harm, 

the punishment may be more severe than in cases where the harm was accidental 

or unintentional. Other factors that may influence the degree of punishment include 

the victim’s age, vulnerability, and the use of weapons or other dangerous 

instruments.

 

In some jurisdictions, there are specific laws that apply to certain types of grievous 

hurt, such as domestic violence or hate crimes. These laws may result in enhanced 

penalties for offenders who commit these offenses.

 

Overall, grievous hurt is a serious offense that can result in significant penalties for 

the offender. It is important to consult with a legal professional if you have been 

accused of or charged with grievous hurt to understand your rights and options.

 

Conclusion 

 

In conclusion, grievous hurt refers to a severe injury that is more serious than a 

simple injury but falls short of causing death. It is a legal term used to describe 

harm that causes permanent physical disability, disfigurement, endangers life, or 

causes severe pain or suffering. The degree of punishment for grievous hurt varies 

by jurisdiction, but it is generally considered a serious offense that may result in 

significant penalties for the offender. The severity of the injury, the intent of the 

offender, and other factors such as the victim’s age or vulnerability are taken into 

account when determining the degree of punishment. If you have been accused of 

or charged with grievous hurt, it is important to consult with a legal professional to 

understand your rights and options.

 

CASE LAWS

Allahabad High Court

Queen-Empress vs Bisheshar and Ors. on 16 May, 1887

Equivalent citations: (1887) ILR 9 All 645

Author: K John Edge

Bench: J Edge, Kt., Broadhurst

JUDGMENT John Edge, Kt., C.J.

1. The appellants in this ease were, on the 22nd January last, convicted by the Sessions Judge of Gorakhpur, under Section 147of the Indian Penal Code, of a riot, and, under Section 325of the same Code, of voluntarily causing grievous hurt to Mr. Turner.
2. Harnath Pande was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for the riot and to three years for causing grievous hurt. Mangan was sentenced to one year’s imprisonment for the riot and to five years for causing grievous hurt. The Judge directed that in each case the sentence for causing grievous hurt should commence on the expiration of the sentence for the riot.
3. It was not contended by Mr. Alston, who appeared for the appellants, that a riot had not in fact taken place. But it was contended by him as to Dubri, Bisheshar, Lalsa, Sarju, Amir Khan, and Mathura, that they were not present, and were not parties to the riot or to the inflicting of the grievous hurt upon Mr. Turner. It was contended by Mr. Alston, as to all the appellants, that by reason of Section 71of the Indian Penal Code, as amended by Section 4 of Act VIII of 1882, the sentences were in each case illegal. In support of this contention Mr. Alston relied upon the judgment of Mr. Justice STRAIGHT in the case of Queen-Empress v. Bam Partab, I. L. K,., 6 All., 121. Mr. Alston also contended that in any event the sentences in each ease were too severe. Owing to the respect we entertain for the opinion of Mr. Justice STRAIGHT, we took time to consider our judgment. The riot, in the course of which Mr. Turner was seriously injured, took place on the 26th of October 1886. It appears that Mr. Turner had previously been in the employment of Sant Bakhsh Singh, and had, in the course of his employment, collected rents for him. Prior to the 26th of October 1886, Mr. Turner had transferred his services to Nath Bakbsh Singh, a brother of Sant Bakhsh Singh, and on the occasion in question had gone to Chota Bishenpura, as the agent of Nath Bakhsh Singh, to collect rents from the villagers, who appear to have been the tenants of Sant Bakhsh Singh and Nath Bakhsh Singh. Whilst Mr. Turner was endeavouring to collect the rents for his employer, Nath Bakhsh Singh, a large body of men armed with lathis, at whose head was the appellant Harnath Pande on horseback, came to the village. Harnath Pande was the karinda of Sant Bakhsh Singh. Harnath Pande ordered Nath Bakhsh Singh to move away, saying, “Sant Bakhsh Singh’s orders are to beat the Sahib, not you or your men.” Harnath Pande’s party surrounded Mr. Turner, and the appellant Mangan and others struck Mr. Turner with their lathis on the head and body and thereby caused him grievous hurt. Mr. Turner ultimately succeeded in escaping with his life. It does not appear whether or not any of the other appellants actually struck Mr. Turner. I have no doubt that each of the appellants was a party to, and participated in, the riot. Each of them is, in my judgment, fully identified, and as to the alibis which were called for Dubri, Bisheshar, Lalsa, Sarju, Amir Khan and Mathura, I consider them to have been worthless. In my opinion it was also clearly established that Mangan committed an offence under Section 325of the Indian Penal Code by voluntarily causing grievous hurt to Mr. Turner, and that each of the other appellants is as responsible for the committing of that offence as if it had been committed by his own hand. The common objects of that unlawful assembly were, in my opinion, to compel Mr. Turner to refrain from collecting the rents for his employer, and to use violence to him. These objects were effected. That the appellants could legally be tried for and convicted of the offences under Sections 147 and 325 is not questioned, nor can there be any doubt on the point. That the appellants were properly convicted, and that the sentences passed in each case were not too severe, I have equally no doubt. My only doubt on this point of the amount of the sentences is whether Harnath Pande ought not to have received a more severe sentence than that passed upon him.
4. The question then remains, whether or not the sentences were legal. This depends on the true construction of Section 71of the Indian Penal Code as amended by Section 4 of Act VIII of 1882, and upon the construction of Sections 149and 325 of the same Code.
5. A poison convicted under Section 325of voluntarily causing grievous hurt may be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to woven years. In none of the eases before us did the combined sentences exceed the term of imprisonment which the Judge might have awarded in each case for the offence under Section 325.
6. Section 71as amended is as follows: “When anything which is an offence, is made up of parts, any of which parts is itself an offence, the offender shall not be punished with the punishment of more than one of such of his offences unless it be so expressly provided.

When anything is an offence falling within two or more definitions of any law in force for the time being by which offences are defined or punished, or when several acts, of which one or more would by itself or themselves constitute an offence, constitute when combined a different offence, the offender shall not be punished with a more severe punishment than the Court which tries him could award for any one of such offences.

7. If the second and third paragraphs of Section 71as amended are the only portions of the section which apply in this case, it is clear that none of the appellants has been punished “with a more severe punishment” than the Court which tried him could have awarded for the offence under Section 325. Mangan’s punishment was six years’ imprisonment, made up of two sentences of five years and one year. The Judge could have awarded him seven years for the offence under Section 325.
8. Throughout Section 71the word “punishment” and not the word “sentence” is used and, I assume, with an object. If the earlier part of Section 71, that is, the section as it stood before it was amended, applies to this case, the answer is that none of the appellants has been punished with the punishment of more than one of his offences; that is to say, the combined periods of imprisonment do not in any of the cases exceed the maximum punishment which could have been awarded for the offence under Section 325. If it were intended by the Legislature that in cases coming within Section 71as amended, a prisoner should be sentenced to punishment for one offence only, it would have been easy for the Legislature to have said so, and the section would then have not only the effect which I think it has, but also the effect which it was contended by Mr. Alston that it has.
9. If Mr. Alston’s contention be well founded, I confess I do not see any adequate reason for the insertion of Section 235inthe Code of Criminal Procedure, 1882, nor of the illustrations to that section. There would be little use in inquiring into and convicting an accused person of two offences if he could be legally sentenced for one only. In my opinion, which I express with diffidence, knowing that it is opposed to that of one of the most accomplished criminal lawyers on the Indian Bench–I refer to Mr. Justice Straight–Section 71 as amended does not apply to a case of this kind at all. Whether or not Section 71 as amended applies to this ease, must depend upon the construction of Section 149 of the Indian Penal Code. Unless Section 149 creates an offence, it is obvious that Section 71 does not apply.
10. Section 149appears to me to create no offence, but to be, like Section 34 of the same Code, merely declaratory of a principle of the common law, which at any rate in England has prevailed. In the present case, no doubt, in order to convict the appellants, other than Mangan, of the offence under Section 325, it was necessary for the prosecution to give such evidence as entitled the Judge to find that there was an unlawful assembly; that some member of that unlawful assembly had voluntarily inflicted grievous hurt, within the meaning of Section 325, upon Mr. Turner, and that the offence was committed by such member of the unlawful assembly in prosecution of the common object of that assembly, or was such as the members of that assembly, knew to be likely to be committed in prosecution of that object, and that the accused were, at the time of the committing of that offence, members of the same assembly. When such facts were established, the commission of an offence under Section 325 was proved against the accused. It is true that one step in the proof was the evidence that the accused, at the time of the committing of the offence under Section 325, were members of an unlawful assembly. The offence under Section 326 is one, except as therein provided, of voluntarily causing grievous hurt, and not of voluntarily causing grievous hurt whilst the accused is a member of an unlawful assembly. The object of Section 149, as I think, in such a case as the present is to make it clear that an accused who comes within that section, cannot put forward as a defence that it was not his hand which inflicted the grievous hurt. Take the case of Mangan, whose hand did, in fact, inflict grievous hurt upon Mr. Turner. In his case he was a member of the same unlawful assembly, and the offence committed by him was committed in the prosecution of the common object of that assembly, and was such as he and the other appellants knew to be likely to be committed in prosecution of that object. According to the judgment of the majority of this Court in the case of the Queen-Empress v. Ram Sarup, I.L.E., 7 All., 757, if their judgment applies at all, Mangan could be legally sentenced to imprisonment for the riot and to imprisonment for inflicting grievous hurt on Mr. Turner. My reason for raising a doubt as to whether the judgment of the majority of the Court, in that case applies is, that it does not clearly appear from the referring order, or from the judgment of the majority of the Court, that the case had to be regarded by the Court, or was in fact regarded by the majority as one in which it was proved that the grievous hurt had been caused in the prosecution of the common object of the unlawful assembly, or that the offence of causing grievous hurt was known by the members of that assembly to be likely to be committed in the prosecution of the common object. Nevertheless, if that case was not referred on the basis that the Court should assume that the grievous hurt was caused in the prosecution of the common object of an unlawful assembly, it is difficult to see why the case was referred at all; and certainly my brother BRODHURST in his judgment in that case appears to have dealt with the reference on that basis.
11. If five people, A, B, C, D, and E, go out with the common object and intention of doing that which would constitute a riot, and of causing in the course of the riot grievous hurt to a particular person, and carry this intention into effect, but by chance the grievous hurt is inflicted upon the particular person by the hands of one only of the five rioters–let me say by the hands of A–I fail to see upon what principle of law or common sense A should be liable to be sentenced for the riot, and also for causing the grievous hurt, whilst his equally guilty companions should be liable to be sentenced for one only of those offences. It may be said on the authority of the decision in the case of Queen v. Rubbee-oollah, 7 W.R., Cr., 13, that, in the case I have just put, A could not have been punished for the riot and also for causing grievous hurt. A passage in the judgment of TOTTENHAM and GHOSE, JJ., in the case of Loke Nath Sarkar v. Queen-Empress I. L. R., 11 Cal., 349, at p. 353, would appear also to be an authority for that contention. The passage to which I refer is as follows: ” If it had been found that the causing of hurt was the force or violence which alone constituted the rioting in the present case, then we should be prepared to hold that the prisoner could not be punished both for causing hurt and for rioting. But the facts of the case do not warrant such a finding, for rioting was being committed before the hurts were inflicted.” If this be a correct view of the law, A, whose act of causing grievous hurt constituted in that event the offence of rioting, could not be punished for the riot and for the grievous hurt, but his companions B, C, D, and E, who subsequently in the course of the riot and in the prosecution of the common object of the same unlawful assembly, by their own hands voluntarily caused grievous hurt to another person, might be punished for the same riot and for the grievous hurt caused by them. In other words, the person whose act converted what was an offence under Section 143into the offence of rioting under Section 146, and whose hand it was that inflicted the first blow, would be liable to be sentenced for one offence only, whilst his not more guilty companions would be liable to be punished for two offences, although all of the offences were committed in prosecution of the common object of the unlawful assembly, and were such as the members of that assumably knew Co be likely to be committed in prosecution of that object. If it be said that in such a case A might be sentenced for the riot, and also” for the grievous hurt caused by B, C, D, and E, the answer is that that is to suppose that the latter offence was not a component part of the offence of the rioting, and that nothing but the first act of force or violence, plus the unlawful assembly, constituted the riot. In that event I should like to ask how long the riot continued, and whether each subsequent act of force or violence constituted a fresh offence of rioting, and if it did, whether A, B, C, D and E could, under such circumstances, be punished for more than one offence of rioting, or for the riot completed by the grievous hurt caused by 4, and for the offence under Section 325committed by B, C, D, and E, in prosecution of the common object of the same unlawful assembly, which by itself, plus the; unlawful assembly, would have been sufficient to constitute a riot In my humble opinion, the violence of A and that of B, C, D, and E were component parts of one and the same riot. It might be contended that, although A, B, C, D, and E could not in a case like the present be sentenced for rioting and also for causing grievous hurt, they might each, or any of them, be sentenced for having been members of an unlawful assembly and also for the causing of the grievous hurt. Such sentences would, in the present case, be based upon findings inconsistent with each other and with the facts, and inconsistent also, as I think, with the law, unless the Judge were entitled to split up the transaction and find the appellants guilty of the offence of having been members of an unlawful assembly up to 9 o’clock in the morning, when the offence of unlawful assembly merged by the violence into that of riot. In such a case, would it have been competent for the Judge to have sentenced the appellants for having been members of an unlawful assembly and also for the riot? A component part of the riot was the same unlawful assembly, and if Section 149 does create an offence, the same unlawful assembly was a component part of the offence of grievous hurt, so far as B, C, D, and E are concerned, and in the case of A,–Mangan–the evidence showed that he had caused the grievous hurt whilst he was a member of the unlawful assembly and in the prosecution of the common object of that assembly. As I have said, Section 149 Hoes not, in my opinion, create an offence: it is merely declaratory of the law, and I should think the Courts in India would so have interpreted the law, even if Section 149 had not been in the Code. The section which relates to dacoity with murder–Section 396 of the Indian Penal Code–is, I think, an example of a section which does create a substantive and distinct offence. The difference-in principle between Section 149 and Section 396 is apparent. Under Section 396, all persons who are conjointly committing dacoity are equally responsible, whether the murder was or was not committed in the prosecution of the common object, and even if they did not, in fact, know that it was likely that murder would be committed in the committing of the dacoity.
12. It appears to me that in the case of the other appellants the riot was no more part, of the offence under Section 325than it was in the case of Mangan To take an illustration from the law in England. It these appellants had been convicted in England of and sentenced for, the offence of unlawful wounding under circumstances similar to those in the present case, and were subsequently indicted for the riot, no one would, I think, suggest that they could plead the previous conviction as a bar, and for the reason that the offences were not the same, and they could not have been convicted of the riot on the indictment which charged them with the unlawful wounding. If they could not plead the previous conviction as a bar, they would be liable to be convicted and sentenced for the riot, although they had been previously convicted and sentenced for the unlawful wounding. But no doubt the previous sentence would be taken into account.
13. To constitute a riot according to the law in England, there must be an assembly together of three or more persons, and their assembling must be accompanied with some such circumstances, either of actual force or violence, or at least of an apparent tendency thereto, as are calculated to inspire people with terror. It is sufficient if any one of the Queen’s subjects be in fact terrified. (Archbold’s Pleading and E(sic)ndence in Criminal Cases, 20th ed., page 956). As illustrating the law of England on this point, I may quote the following passage from Archbold’s Pleading and Evidence in Criminal Canes, 20th ed., page 148:

An acquittal upon an indictment for burglary and larceny may be pleaded to an indictment for larceny of the same godos, because upon the former indictment the defendant might have been convicted of the larceny. But if the first indictment were for a burglary with intent to commit a larceny, and did not charge an actual larceny, an acquittal on it would not he a bar to a sub-sequent indictment for the larceny–2 H de, 245, B. v. Vander comb, 2 Leach, 716, because the defendant could not have been convicted of the larceny on the first indictment. An acquittal upon an indictment, for murder may he pleaded in bar of another indictment for manslaughter–Fost. 392; 2 Hale, 246–because the defendant might be convicted of manslaughter upon the first indictment. So, an acquittal upon an indictment for manslaughter is, it seems, a bar to an indictment for murder–Fost. 229; 3 Co. 466; Holerofi’s case, 2 Hale, 246: 1 S(sic)ark, 305 ; R. v. Tancock, 13 Cox, 217. So now also a person cannot, after being acquitted on an indictment for felony, be indicted for an attempt to commit it, for he might have bean convicted for the attempt on the previous indictment for the felony–14 and 15 Vic, Clause 100, Section 9. So also a person indicted and acquitted on an indictment for rubbery cannot afterwards be indicted for an assault with intent to commit it–Sections 24 and 25 V c, Clause 96, Section 41; a person indicted and acquitted for a misdemeanour, which upon the trial appears to be a fd(sic)ny, cannot afterwards he indicted for the felony–i4 and 15 Vic, Clause 100, Section 12; a person indicted and acquitted for embezzlement, cannot afterwards be indicted as for a larceny, or, it t(sic)aiod and at quitted for a larceny, cannot afterwards be indicted as for embezzlement upon evidence of the same facts–24 and 25 Vie, Clause 96, Section 72; R. v. Gorbutt, Dears, and B., 166: 26 L. J. M. C., 47.

14. Section 71would, in my opinion, apply, for instance, to a case in which a man in committing a theft voluntarily caused hurt to any person. In that case one component part of the offence of the robbery would be the offence of the theft.
15. The judgment of my brother BRODHUHST in the case of Queen-Empress v. Dusmqar Singh I. L. R., 7 All., 29; Ins judgment in the case of Queen-Empress v. Ramsarup, I. L. R , 7 All., 757; the judgments of OLDFIELD, BRODHUHST, DUTHOIT and MAHMOOD, JJ., in the case of Queen-Empress v. Parishad, I. L. R, 7 All., 414, and the judgment of MITTER and BEVERLEY, JJ , in Chandra Kant Bhattacharjee v. Queers-Empress, I. L. R, 12 Cal., 498, support ,the view that in such a case as this a sentence for riot and a sentence for voluntarily causing grievous hurt can be legally passed. The judgment in the case of Reg. v. Tukaya bin Tamana, I. L. E., 1 Bom., 214, has a bearing on this point.
16. I am of opinion that the sentences in this case were legal, and that these appeals should be dismissed.

Broadhurst, J.

17. The facts and the law applicable to the case have been fully stated by the learned Chief Justice, and I have, on previous occasions, expressed my own views on the legal points that have again arisen. Under these circumstances, it is, I think, sufficient for me to observe that the convictions are supported by the evidence for the prosecution; that the sentences that have been passed are, in my opinion, undoubtedly legal; that I see no sufficient reason for interference either with the convictions or the sentences, and that I therefore concur in dismissing the appeals.

REFERENCES

INDIAN KANOON

INDIAN PENAL CODE

https://www.writinglaw.com/what-is-hurt-and-grievous-hurt-in-indian-penal-code/

 

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