Indian Penal Code, 1860
350. Criminal force
Whoever intentionally uses force to any person, without that
person's consent, in order to the committing of any offence, or intending by
the use of such force to cause, or knowing it to be likely that by the use of
such force he will cause injury, fear or annoyance to the person to whom the
force is used, is said to use criminal force to that other.
Illustrations
(a) Z is sitting in a moored boat on a river. A unfastens the
moorings, and thus intentionally causes the boat to drift down the stream. Here
A intentionally causes motion to Z, and he does this by disposing substances in
such a manner that the motion is produced without any other act on any person's
part. A has therefore intentionally used force to Z; and if he has done so
without Z's consent, in order to the committing of any offence, or intending or
knowing it to be likely that this use of force will cause injury, fear or
annoyance to Z, A has used criminal force to Z.
(b) Z is riding in a chariot. A lashes Z's horses, and thereby
causes them to quicken their pace. Here Z has caused change of motion to Z by
inducing the animals to change their motion. A has therefore used force to Z;
and if A has done this without Z's consent, intending, or knowing it to be
likely that he may thereby injure, frighten or annoy Z, A has used criminal
force to Z.
(c) Z is riding. in a palanquin. A, intending to rob Z, seizes
the pole and stops the palanquin. Here A has caused cessation of motion to Z,
and he has done this by his own bodily power. A has therefore used force to Z;
and as A has acted thus intentionally, without Z's consent, in order to the
commission of an offence. A has used criminal force to Z.
(d) A intentionally pushes against Z in the street. Here A has
by his own bodily power moved his own person so as to bring it into contact
with Z. He has therefore intentionally used force to Z; and if he has done so
without Z's consent, intending or knowing it to be likely that he may thereby
injure, frighten or annoy Z, he has used criminal force to Z.
(e) A throws a stone, intending or knowing it to be likely that
the stone will be thus brought into contact with Z, or with Z's clothes, or
with something carried by Z, or that it will strike water and dash up the water
against Z's clothes or something carried by Z. Here, if the throwing of the
stone produce the effect of causing any substance to come into contact with Z,
or Z's clothes. A has used force to Z; and if he did so without Z's consent,
intending thereby to injure, frighten or annoy ,Z, he has criminal force by Z.
(f) A intentionally pulls up a woman's veil. Here A
intentionally uses force to her, and if he does so without her consent
intending or knowing it to be likely that he may thereby injure, frighten or
annoy her, he has used criminal force to her.
(g) Z is bathing, A pours into the bath water which he knows to
be boiling. Here A intentionally by his own bodily power causes such motion in
the boiling water as brings that water into contact with Z, or with that water
so situated that such contact must affect Z's sense of feeling ; A has
therefore intentionally used force to Z ; and if he has done this without Z's
consent intending or knowing it to be likely that he may thereby cause injury,
fear, or annoyance to Z, A has used criminal force.
(h) A incites a dog to spring upon Z, without Z's consent. Here,
if A intends to cause injury, fear or annoyance to Z, he uses criminal force to
Z.