Section 196: Prohibition of using criminal force

1) No person shall use criminal force to another person.

2) A person shall be considered to use criminal force to another person if he or she does any of the following acts:

(a) To use any kind of force to that other person with the intention of committing an offence,

(b) To use force to that other person with the intention of causing, or knowing it to be likely that the use of such force will cause, injury, fear or annoyance to that other person or his or her family or property,

(c) To terrify that other person to apprehend that force will be used to him or her or to threat or intimidate to use force, or attempt to use force, in any other manner, to him or her.

3) Notwithstanding anything contained elsewhere in this Section, the use of any force, with one’s consent, in the course of imparting teaching, instruction or training on the concerned subject, conducting acting or treatment of any kind or in a manner to render benefit or the use of force of usual nature in the course of having any kind of game shall not be considered to be the use of criminal force.

Provided that the provision of this sub-section shall not apply to any malicious use of force to cause injury to anyone.

4) A person who uses, or causes to be used, criminal force shall be liable to a sentence of imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or a fine not exceeding thirty thousand rupees or both the sentences, in the case of using criminal force by carrying a weapon, and to a sentence of imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding ten thousand rupees or both the sentences, in the case of using criminal force without carrying a weapon.