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BNS Section 331: Punishment for house-trespass or house- breaking. 331

Section 331 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 deals with punishment for house-trespass or house- breaking. 331. It replaces IPC 453, IPC 456 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Under the BNSS First Schedule, it depends on the sub-section: 331(1) is cognizable and non-bailable; 331(2) is cognizable and non-bailable; 331(3) is cognizable and non-bailable; 331(4) is cognizable and non-bailable; 331(5) is cognizable and non-bailable; 331(6) is cognizable and non-bailable; 331(7) is cognizable and non-bailable; 331(8) is cognizable and non-bailable.

Bail, cognizability and punishment

SectionOffencePunishmentCognizableBailableTriable by
331(1)Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking.Imprisonment for 2 years and fine.CognizableNon-bailableAny Magistrate
331(2)Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night.Imprisonment for 3 years and fine.CognizableNon-bailableAny Magistrate
331(3)Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking in order to the commission of an offence punishable with imprisonment.Imprisonment for 3 years and fine.CognizableNon-bailableAny Magistrate
331(3)If the offence be theft.Imprisonment for 10 years.CognizableNon-bailableMagistrate of the first class
331(4)Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night in order to the commission of an offence punishable with imprisonment.Imprisonment for 5 years and fine.CognizableNon-bailableAny Magistrate
331(4)If the offence be theft.Imprisonment for 14 years.CognizableNon-bailableMagistrate of the first class
331(5)Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking after preparation made for causing hurt, assault, etc.Imprisonment for 10 years and fine.CognizableNon-bailableMagistrate of the first class
331(6)Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night, after preparation made for causing hurt, etc.Imprisonment for 14 years and fine.CognizableNon-bailableMagistrate of the first class
331(7)Grievous hurt caused whilst committing lurking house-trespass or house-breaking.Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine.CognizableNon-bailableCourt of Session
331(8)Death or grievous hurt caused by one of several persons jointly concerned in house-breaking by night, etc.Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years and fine.CognizableNon-bailableCourt of Session

Source: BNSS, 2023, First Schedule, Part I.

Text of BNS Section 331

331. (1) Whoever commits lurking house-trespass or house-breaking, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, and shall also be liable to fine.

(2) Whoever commits lurking house-trespass or house-breaking after sunset and before sunrise, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.

(3) Whoever commits lurking house-trespass or house-breaking, in order to the committing of any offence punishable with imprisonment, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine; and if the offence intended to be committed is theft, the term of the imprisonment may be extended to ten years.

(4) Whoever commits lurking house-trespass or house-breaking after sunset and before sunrise, in order to the committing of any offence punishable with imprisonment, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to fine; and, ifthe offence intended to be committed is theft, the term of the imprisonment may be extended to fourteen years.

(5) Whoever commits lurking house-trespass, or house-breaking, having made preparation for causing hurt to any person, or for assaulting any person, or for wrongfully restraining any person, or for putting any person in fear of hurt or of assault or of wrongful restraint, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description or a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

(6) Whoever commits lurking house-trespass or house-breaking after sunset and before sunrise, having made preparation for causing hurt to any person or for assaulting any person, or for wrongfully restraining any person, or for putting any person in fear of hurt, or of assault, or of wrongful restraint, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to fourteen years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Punishment for house-trespass or house- breaking.

House-trespass in order to commit offence.

House-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint.

Dishonestly breaking open receptacle containing property.

Making a false document.

(7) Whoever, whilst committing lurking house-trespass or house-breaking, causes grievous hurt to any person or attempts to cause death or grievous hurt to any person, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

(8) If, at the time of the committing of lurking house-trespass or house-breaking after sunset and before sunrise, any person guilty of such offence shall voluntarily cause or attempt to cause death or grievous hurt to any person, every person jointly concerned in committing such lurking house-trespass or house-breaking after sunset and before sunrise, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

IPC sections replaced

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