Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Chapter XVI: Of Offences Affecting the Human Body · Of Criminal Force and Assault
Section 351: Assault
The Indian Penal Code, 1860 was repealed and replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024. It still applies to offences and proceedings from before that date.
Whoever makes any gesture, or any preparation intending or knowing it to be likely that such gesture or preparation will cause any person present to apprehend that he who makes that gesture or preparation is about to use criminal force to that person, is said to commit an assault.
Explanation.—Mere words do not amount to an assault. But the words which a person uses may give to his gestures or preparation such a meaning as may make those gestures or preparations amount to an assault.
Corresponding sections were matched by comparing the wording of both official texts, and for the IPC and BNS, also against a published correspondence table. Wording, punishments and structure often changed, so read both sections before relying on the match.
Source: India Code (Legislative Department), the text of the Act as it stood before its repeal. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 351
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B.N. John v. State of U.P. & Anr.
Appellant herein has sought quashing of criminal proceedings arising under sections 353 and 186 of IPC.
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Mahendra Kumar Sonker v. The State of Madhya Pradesh
Whether the conviction of the appellant under s.353 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) can be sustained without proving assault and use of criminal force.
- P. Yuvaprakash v. State Rep. by Inspector of Police
- Attorney General for India v. Satish and Another
- Munshiram v. State of Rajasthan and Anr. Etc.
- Chanakya Dhibar (Dead) v. State of West Bengal and Ors.