Grievous Hurt Under the BNS (Section 117): IPC 325 and 326 Mapping (2026)
What grievous hurt means under Sections 116 and 117 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, how it maps to Sections 320 and 325 of the old IPC, the new provisions on permanent disability, and the punishment. Last verified October 2026.
Explainer · Criminal Law · BNS
Voluntarily causing grievous hurt is an offence under Section 117 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS). Grievous hurt itself is a defined list of serious injuries set out in Section 116. The offence carries forward Sections 320, 322 and 325 of the old IPC. The basic punishment is imprisonment of up to seven years, and a fine. Last verified October 2026.
- What it is: voluntarily causing grievous hurt, meaning serious injury from the defined list in Section 116, under BNS Section 117.
- Old law: IPC Section 320 (grievous hurt), Section 322 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt) and Section 325 (punishment).
- Punishment: up to seven years and fine for the basic offence; a minimum of ten years, up to life, where the victim is permanently disabled or in a vegetative state.
- Classification: cognizable; reported inconsistently as bailable or non-bailable under the BNS, so confirm before acting.
01The problem this section answers
Not all injuries are the same. A bruise in a scuffle and a fractured skull both involve hurt, but the law must treat them very differently. For serious injury the BNS uses a defined category, grievous hurt, with a much heavier punishment than simple hurt.
Section 117 is the offence of voluntarily causing grievous hurt. Whether an injury is grievous is not left to feeling; it is decided by the defined list in Section 116, often with medical evidence.
02What BNS Sections 116 and 117 cover
The BNS deals with grievous hurt in two steps.
Section 116 defines grievous hurt. It is a closed list of serious injuries, which includes emasculation, permanent loss of sight or hearing, loss of a limb or joint, destruction or permanent weakening of a limb or joint, permanent disfiguration of the head or face, a fracture or dislocation of a bone or tooth, and any hurt that endangers life or that keeps the victim in severe bodily pain or unable to follow their ordinary pursuits for twenty days.
Section 117 is the offence of voluntarily causing grievous hurt. Section 117(1) describes the act and 117(2) sets the basic punishment. The BNS then adds two important provisions:
- Section 117(3): where the grievous hurt causes permanent disability or puts the victim in a persistent vegetative state, the punishment is rigorous imprisonment of not less than ten years, which may extend to imprisonment for life.
- Section 117(4): where a group of five or more persons causes grievous hurt to a person on grounds such as race, caste, sex, place of birth, language, or personal belief, each member can be punished with imprisonment up to seven years and fine.
Related sections to keep separate
Grievous hurt caused by a dangerous weapon or by other dangerous means is dealt with under Section 118 of the BNS, which carried forward old IPC Section 326. Acid attacks are a separate, severe offence under Section 124. Simple hurt is under Section 115.
03IPC 320 and 325 to BNS mapping
The old Indian Penal Code set out grievous hurt across these sections. The BNS keeps the scheme and renumbers it, and adds the new sub-sections.
| Old law (IPC, 1860) | New law (BNS, 2023) | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Section 320 | Section 116 | Defines grievous hurt |
| Section 322 | Section 117(1) | Defines voluntarily causing grievous hurt |
| Section 325 | Section 117(2) | Punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt |
| No equivalent | Section 117(3) | Permanent disability or vegetative state (new) |
| No equivalent | Section 117(4) | Grievous hurt by a group of five or more (new) |
So the search term "section 325 IPC in BNS" points to Section 117(2). Note that old IPC Section 326 (grievous hurt by dangerous weapons) is Section 118 of the BNS, not 117. For the full renumbering, see our IPC to BNS section mapping.
04Punishment, cognizable and bailable
The punishment depends on the severity.
| Offence | Section | Punishment |
|---|---|---|
| Voluntarily causing grievous hurt | 117(2) | Up to 7 years, and fine |
| Grievous hurt causing permanent disability or vegetative state | 117(3) | Rigorous imprisonment not less than 10 years, up to life |
| Grievous hurt by a group of five or more on identity grounds | 117(4) | Up to 7 years, and fine |
- Cognizable or not: cognizable, so the police can register and investigate without a magistrate’s order.
- Bailable or not: several sources treat Section 117 as non-bailable under the BNS, which would be a change from the old position where grievous hurt under IPC Section 325 was bailable.
- Triable by: Magistrate of the first class for the basic offence; the serious forms by higher courts.
05What changed from the old law
The definition of grievous hurt and the basic seven year punishment are carried over from the old IPC. The real changes are the two new provisions. Section 117(3) creates a severe minimum sentence of ten years, up to life, where the victim is left permanently disabled or in a persistent vegetative state. Section 117(4) targets group assaults driven by identity, such as caste or community.
The BNS keeps the old seven year punishment for grievous hurt but adds a ten year minimum where the victim is permanently disabled, and a new offence for group assaults based on identity.
Reports also differ on whether the basic offence is now non-bailable, so this should be confirmed before acting on it. A case for an act before 1 July 2024 continues under the IPC, while a complaint for an act on or after that date uses BNS Section 117.
06Where Claw fits
Claw is an all-in-one legaltech platform for Indian advocates, law firms, and corporate legal teams, combining AI-based case search, an AI legal assistant (Legal GPT), case management, and compliance automation across all Indian courts and tribunals.
Grievous hurt cases turn heavily on medical evidence and on bail, and they are litigated from the trial court up to the High Court. Claw lets you search and track cases, orders and judgments by section, party or advocate across 9,102 courts, benches and forums, with 30 crore+ judgments and results in under 5 seconds. You can follow a live matter and get cause lists and WhatsApp and email alerts before each hearing. To search this offence across the court system, start with case search across Indian courts.
Create a FREE Claw account to search and track cases under this section by party or advocate name. Claw does not use customer case documents to train AI models.
07Sources and further reading
- India Code (official text of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023): indiacode.nic.in
- Ministry of Home Affairs (new criminal laws): mha.gov.in
- Bare text of BNS Section 117: devgan.in
- Claw: clawlaw.in
This explainer is general information, not legal advice. The new criminal laws are still being read by the courts, so check the current text and take advice from counsel on your own facts.
08Frequently asked questions
What is Section 117 of the BNS?
Section 117 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 is the offence of voluntarily causing grievous hurt. Grievous hurt is a defined list of serious injuries in Section 116, such as a fracture, loss of sight or hearing, or any hurt that endangers life.
Which IPC section is now BNS Section 117?
BNS Section 117 replaces Sections 322 and 325 of the Indian Penal Code, which defined and punished voluntarily causing grievous hurt. The definition of grievous hurt that was Section 320 is now Section 116.
What is the punishment for grievous hurt under the BNS?
The basic punishment under Section 117(2) is imprisonment up to seven years and fine. Where the grievous hurt leaves the victim permanently disabled or in a persistent vegetative state, Section 117(3) prescribes a minimum of ten years, up to life.
Is grievous hurt bailable under the BNS?
It is cognizable. Sources differ on whether the basic offence under Section 117(2) is bailable or non-bailable under the BNS, whereas the old IPC Section 325 was bailable. Confirm the current classification against the First Schedule of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.
How is grievous hurt different from hurt?
Hurt under Section 115 is ordinary bodily harm. Grievous hurt under Section 117 is limited to the serious injuries listed in Section 116, so it carries a much heavier punishment and is treated as cognizable.
Can I find grievous hurt cases in Claw?
Yes. Claw lets you search and track cases, orders and judgments by section, party or advocate across 9,102 courts, benches and forums, with 30 crore+ judgments and results in under 5 seconds. It helps you research and follow matters, but it does not give legal advice.