Grievous Hurt | Medical Science Optional Notes for UPSC PDF Download

Grievous Hurt

Section 319 IPC-Hurt means bodily pain, disease or infirmity caused to any person.

Section 320 I PC-Grievous Hurt

• Grievous hurt refers to injuries of a more severe nature.
• Distinguishing between bodily injuries that are serious and those that are minor can be highly challenging.
• In order to establish the offense of voluntarily causing grievous hurt, there must be a specific injury intentionally inflicted, falling within any of the eight defined categories/clauses.

Grievous hurt-Clauses

Clause 8

Some injuries, although they may not meet the criteria outlined in the seven clauses above, can still be extremely severe.

i) Injuries that endanger life: The notion of an injury dangerous to life is not precisely defined. In the absence of surgical assistance, such injuries may lead to fatality.

• Stab wounds to the abdomen, head, or vital parts
• Injuries causing the rupture of the spleen
• Squeezing of the testicles
• Incised wounds on the neck
• Compound fractures of the skull
• Rupture of internal organs
• Injuries to large blood vessels

ii) Injuries causing severe bodily pain to the victim, or
iii) Rendering the victim unable to pursue ordinary activities for a duration of 20 days: It can be challenging to establish that an injured person experienced severe bodily pain for 20 days, but it is comparatively easier to demonstrate their incapacity to engage in regular activities due to the injury.

The doctor's assessment of the patient's disability holds significance.
Ordinary pursuits encompass the daily routines of an individual, such as eating, bathing, using the toilet, etc., but do not encompass the specific tasks constituting a person's employment duties.

Note: The potential for correction through surgery should not be a consideration when evaluating any of the aforementioned injuries.
Merely spending 20 days in the hospital does not categorize an injury as grievous.

Punishment for Grievous hurt

S.325. I.P.C.: Punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt : Imprisonment for a term extending to seven years and also fine.
S.326,1.P.C.: Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means: Imprisonment up to ten years and also fine.
326,A. I.P.C.: Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid, etc. is punishable with imprisonment of not less than ten years, but may extend to life, and with fine.

Dangerous weapons or means encompass any tool designed for shooting, stabbing, or cutting, or any implement that, when utilized as an offensive weapon, is capable of causing death. This includes fire or any heated substance, poison or corrosive substances, explosive materials, or any substance that, when inhaled, swallowed, or introduced into the bloodstream, is harmful to the human body, whether administered directly or by means of an animal.

Grievous hurt-Repeats 

1. Describe various clauses of grievous hurt (1997). 
2. Define 'Hurt' what are the various clauses of 'grievous hurt' Discuss the eighth clause in detail (2002).
3. Enumerate the clauses of Grievous hurt, with an example for each clause. (2011) 4. How will you assess that the injury is 'Grievous Hurt' as per Section 320 of the Indian Penal Code? Illustrate with examples. (2017)