IPC Section 431

04 Jun 2025 --
0 Comments

📖 Section 431 IPC – Mischief by injury to railway property, etc.

This section deals with acts that cause damage to railway property or property related to transportation of passengers or goods, with intent to cause loss or danger.

🔹 Textual Meaning

Whoever commits mischief by doing any act that destroys, damages, or defaces:

Any railway property,

Any vessel, aircraft, or other vehicle used for public transport,

Any property used for the conveyance of passengers or goods

with the intent to cause wrongful loss or danger to human life, safety, or property, shall be punished under Section 431 IPC.

🔹 Key Ingredients

Mischief (actus reus)

Must involve destruction, damage, or defacement of property.

Property involved

Railway lines, stations, trains, or equipment.

Public transport vehicles (buses, ships, airplanes).

Property used for transporting passengers or goods.

Intent (mens rea)

The act must be intentional to cause wrongful loss or endanger life/safety.

Accidental damage is not punishable under this section.

Public impact

The law targets property critical to public safety or transportation, because damage can have widespread consequences.

🔹 Punishment

Imprisonment: Up to 5 years, or

Fine, or

Both.

If the mischief leads to death or serious injury, provisions under IPC Sections 436–438 (mischief by fire, or other sections causing death) may also apply.

📌 Example Scenarios

Someone damages railway tracks intending to stop trains or cause loss to railway authorities.

Punishable under Section 431 IPC.

A person tampering with a bus or airplane used for public transport with the intent to cause danger.

Covered under Section 431 IPC.

Breaking or damaging goods in transit on a train or truck with intent to cause wrongful loss.

Also falls under Section 431 IPC.

🔹 Purpose

To protect critical public transport property from intentional harm.

To prevent acts that could endanger public safety or cause financial loss to transport authorities or passengers.

✅ In short:
Section 431 IPC punishes anyone who intentionally damages railway or public transport property to cause loss or danger, with imprisonment up to 5 years, fine, or both.