Grievous hurt is a category of bodily harm under Indian criminal law that encompasses eight specific types of severe injury, as exhaustively defined in Section 320 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (now Section 114(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023). Voluntarily causing grievous hurt is punishable with imprisonment up to seven years and fine.
Legal definition
Section 320 IPC (Section 114(1) BNS) provides an exhaustive enumeration of eight types of injuries that constitute "grievous hurt":
The following kinds of hurt only are designated as "grievous":
First — Emasculation.
Secondly — Permanent privation of the sight of either eye.
Thirdly — Permanent privation of the hearing of either ear.
Fourthly — Privation of any member or joint.
Fifthly — Destruction or permanent impairing of the powers of any member or joint.
Sixthly — Permanent disfiguration of the head or face.
Seventhly — Fracture or dislocation of a bone or tooth.
Eighthly — Any hurt which endangers life or which causes the sufferer to be during the space of twenty days in severe bodily pain, or unable to follow his ordinary pursuits.
This list is exhaustive — no injury, however severe, constitutes "grievous hurt" unless it falls within one of these eight categories. The word "permanent" in designations Second, Third, Fifth, and Sixth means that the injury must have a lasting or irreversible character, though absolute permanence is not required if the medical prognosis is that the condition will persist indefinitely.
Punishment: Section 325 IPC (Section 117 BNS) prescribes punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt — imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and also fine.
Grievous hurt by dangerous weapons: Section 326 IPC (Section 118 BNS) provides enhanced punishment — imprisonment for life or imprisonment up to ten years and fine — when grievous hurt is caused by dangerous weapons or means such as shooting, stabbing, cutting, fire, poison, corrosive substance, or explosive.
How courts have interpreted this term
Naib Singh v. State of Punjab [(1983) 2 SCC 454]
The Supreme Court held that the classification of an injury as grievous hurt is a question of fact to be determined based on medical evidence. The Court emphasised that the opinion of the medical professional examining the victim is crucial, but the court is not bound by it — the court must independently assess whether the injury falls within one of the eight categories.
Rishi Kesh Singh v. State of Bihar [AIR 1970 SC 1]
The Court clarified the meaning of the Eighth category — "hurt which endangers life." This does not mean hurt that is likely to cause death; it means hurt which in the particular case was dangerous to the life of the person injured. The question is whether the hurt, as it actually occurred, put the person's life in danger, not whether it could theoretically have been fatal.
Simbhu v. State of Madhya Pradesh [(2019) — Supreme Court]
The Court addressed the meaning of "permanent disfiguration of the head or face" (Sixth category), holding that the disfigurement must be permanent in nature and must affect the head or face specifically. Scars on other parts of the body, however severe, do not qualify under this category but may fall under the Eighth category if they cause the sufferer to be in severe bodily pain for twenty days.
Why this matters
The distinction between simple hurt and grievous hurt has profound consequences for the accused. Simple hurt under Section 323 IPC (Section 115 BNS) carries a maximum sentence of one year, while grievous hurt under Section 325 IPC (Section 117 BNS) carries up to seven years. When dangerous weapons are involved, the maximum jumps to life imprisonment under Section 326 IPC (Section 118 BNS). This steep sentencing escalation makes the medical classification of injuries a pivotal issue at trial.
For prosecutors, proving grievous hurt requires medical evidence establishing that the injury falls within one of the eight enumerated categories. A simple medical certificate stating "grievous hurt" is insufficient — the medical professional must describe the injury in terms that correspond to one of the statutory designations. For the Eighth category, the prosecution must prove either that the injury endangered life or that it caused severe pain or incapacity for at least twenty days.
For citizens, understanding grievous hurt is important in the context of the right of private defence. Under Section 100 IPC (Section 38 BNS), the right of private defence of the body extends to causing the death of the assailant when there is reasonable apprehension of grievous hurt. This makes the definition of grievous hurt directly relevant to the scope of lawful self-defence.
Related terms
Parent concept:
Related offences:
Related defences:
Frequently asked questions
What are the eight types of grievous hurt?
The eight types under Section 320 IPC (Section 114(1) BNS) are: (1) emasculation, (2) permanent loss of sight, (3) permanent loss of hearing, (4) loss of any member or joint, (5) permanent impairment of any member or joint, (6) permanent disfigurement of head or face, (7) fracture or dislocation of bone or tooth, and (8) any hurt endangering life or causing severe pain for twenty days or inability to follow ordinary pursuits.
Is a fracture always classified as grievous hurt?
Yes. A fracture of any bone, including a tooth, automatically falls within the Seventh designation of Section 320 IPC and constitutes grievous hurt. There is no requirement for the fracture to be severe or debilitating — even a hairline fracture qualifies.
What is the punishment for causing grievous hurt with a weapon?
Under Section 326 IPC (Section 118 BNS), voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means is punishable with imprisonment for life, or imprisonment up to ten years and fine. This is significantly higher than the seven-year maximum for grievous hurt without dangerous weapons.
Is grievous hurt a bailable or non-bailable offence?
Voluntarily causing grievous hurt under Section 325 IPC (Section 117 BNS) is a cognizable and non-bailable offence. Grievous hurt by dangerous weapons under Section 326 IPC (Section 118 BNS) is also non-bailable. Bail in these cases is at the discretion of the court.
This entry is part of the Veritect Indian Legal Glossary, a comprehensive reference of Indian legal terminology grounded in statutory text and judicial interpretation.
Last updated: 2026-03-27. Veritect provides this content for informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.