Section 287 BNS: Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Section 287 BNS at a Glance
Section 287 BNS deals with negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter. It is bailable and cognizable, triable by any Magistrate; it replaced Section 285 IPC on 1 July 2024.
Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months.
Section 287 BNS Bare Act Text
287. Negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter
Whoever does, with fire or any combustible matter, any act so rashly or negligently as to endanger human life, or to be likely to cause hurt or injury to any other person or knowingly or negligently omits to take such order with any fire or any combustible matter in his possession as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life from such fire or combustible matter, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, or with both.
Source: Section 287, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Section 287 BNS in Simple Words
Section 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) deals with rash or negligent conduct involving fire or any combustible matter. It applies to any person who either performs a dangerous act with fire or combustible material or has such fire or material in their possession and fails to take adequate safety measures.
The section covers two kinds of conduct. First, it covers doing any act with fire or combustible matter so rashly or negligently that it endangers human life or is likely to cause hurt or injury to another person. Second, it covers knowingly or negligently omitting to take such order with fire or combustible matter in one's possession as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life. Actual injury does not need to occur if the required danger or likelihood of hurt is present.
A person who commits this offence shall be punished with imprisonment of either description, which may be simple or rigorous, for a term that may extend to six months, or with a fine that may extend to two thousand rupees, or with both.
Ingredients of Section 287 BNS
- The accused did an act with fire or combustible matter, or had such fire or matter in possession
- The act was done rashly or negligently, or there was a knowing or negligent omission to take sufficient order
- The omission was to guard against probable danger from the fire or combustible matter
- The conduct endangered human life, or was likely to cause hurt or injury to another person
Punishment Under Section 287 BNS
Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months.
The offender may be punished with fine of up to two thousand rupees alone, or with both imprisonment and fine.
Rash or negligent conduct with respect to fire or combustible matter is punishable with imprisonment of either description for up to six months, or with fine up to two thousand rupees, or with both.
Example of Section 287 BNS
When Section 287 BNS Does Not Apply
- A careful and accidental fire with proper precautions, where there is no rashness, negligence, or omission to take sufficient order
- Mere possession of firewood, kerosene, or petrol without any dangerous act or negligent omission
- A fire-related act that creates only property damage, without endangering human life or being likely to cause hurt or injury to any person
- A deliberate act of setting fire to harm people, because this section deals with rash or negligent conduct, not intentional violence
Section 287 BNS in the IPC (Previous Law)
Section 287 BNS replaces Section 285 IPC from the old criminal code.
Section 285 IPC is now Section 287 BNS. The definition of the offence and the maximum imprisonment of six months remain unchanged, while the maximum fine has been increased from one thousand rupees under Section 285 IPC to two thousand rupees under Section 287 BNS.
View IPC Section 285 →FAQs on Section 287 BNS
What does Section 287 BNS cover in fire negligence cases?▼
Section 287 BNS covers rash or negligent acts involving fire or combustible matter that endanger human life or are likely to cause hurt or injury to another person. It also covers knowingly or negligently failing to take sufficient precautions with fire or combustible matter in your possession to guard against probable danger to human life.
What has to be proved under Section 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?▼
It must be shown that the person either acted rashly or negligently with fire or combustible matter, or failed to take sufficient safety measures with it. It must also be shown that this conduct endangered human life or was likely to cause hurt or injury, or that the omission failed to guard against probable danger to human life.
What is the punishment under Section 287 BNS?▼
Section 287 BNS provides punishment of imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, or both. The exact sentence depends on the facts of the case.
How is Section 287 BNS different from causing death by negligence?▼
Section 287 BNS is about rash or negligent conduct with fire or combustible matter that creates danger or is likely to cause hurt or injury. If a case involves death, the applicable offence may be a different provision depending on the facts, and Section 287 BNS itself speaks specifically about dangerous conduct and failure to take sufficient precautions.
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 15 Oct 2026 ·