Criminal LawSection 25, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

BNS Section 25

If I accidentally hurt a consenting adult during a game, can I be criminally liable?

Short answer

No, you are not criminally liable if the act was not intended to cause death or serious injury and the adult gave consent.

In detail

Section 25 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 says that a person is not committing a crime when they cause harm to an adult who has voluntarily agreed to take that risk, provided the act was not meant to cause death or serious injury and the person did not know it was likely to cause such severe harm. The law recognises that activities like sports, games or other consensual actions may sometimes result in minor injuries. As long as the injury is not fatal or grievously harmful, and the other party is over eighteen and has expressly or implicitly consented, the doer cannot be charged with an offence. This protection applies only when the consent is genuine and the act is performed in good faith without any intention or knowledge of causing serious damage.

Reviewed by LegalX Editorial · 3 September 2026View source

Related questions

People also ask

  • What if the person injured is under 18?
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Not legal advice. This is general legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and every case turns on its own facts — speak to a lawyer about your situation.

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