IPC Section 284
🔍 Bare Text of IPC Section 284
"Whoever does, with any poisonous substance, any act in a manner so rash or negligent as to endanger human life, or to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any person, or knowingly or negligently omits to take such order with any poisonous substance in his possession as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life from such substance, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both."
🔎 Key Elements Explained
To understand this section better, let’s break it down into its main components:
1. Whoever does any act...
The section applies to any person, without restrictions. It could be an individual, a chemist, a lab technician, a factory worker, etc.
2. ...with any poisonous substance...
This refers to any substance that is toxic and capable of causing harm, illness, or death if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed.
Examples:
Chemicals like cyanide, arsenic, acid
Industrial chemicals like mercury or pesticides
Laboratory poisons
3. ...in a manner so rash or negligent...
This means:
Rash act: Done without thinking about the consequences (recklessness)
Negligent act: Failing to take proper care when doing something
4. ...as to endanger human life or likely to cause hurt or injury...
The negligence must be such that it either:
Directly endangers life, or
Makes it likely that someone will be hurt
In short: Even if no actual injury occurs, the possibility of harm is enough for this section to apply.
5. ...knowingly or negligently omits to take such order...
If someone fails to take proper precautions or ignores known safety protocols, and that failure results in risk to others, this also amounts to an offense.
Example: Storing dangerous chemicals in an unlocked, unlabelled cabinet in a public place.
🧑⚖️ Punishment under Section 284 IPC
Imprisonment: Up to 6 months
Fine: Up to ₹1,000
Or both
⚖️ Nature of Offense
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Type of Offense | Criminal offense |
| Cognizable/Non-cognizable | Non-cognizable (police can’t arrest without court’s permission) |
| Bailable/Non-bailable | Bailable |
| Triable by | Any Magistrate |
🧪 Example Scenarios
A factory owner stores large quantities of acid in poorly sealed containers, leading to a worker getting injured by fumes. Even if it wasn’t intentional, the act was negligent—IPC 284 applies.
A chemist disposes of poisonous chemicals in a public drain without neutralizing them. It risks public health. Again, he can be held liable under this section.
A school lab assistant leaves bottles of poisonous chemicals open and unattended. A student is exposed or nearly exposed. Liability can arise even if no actual harm occurred.
📌 Conclusion
IPC Section 284 is about preventing harm due to rash or negligent handling of poisonous substances. It’s a preventive measure that emphasizes safety and responsibility, especially for those handling toxic materials.
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