Section 287 IPC: Negligent conduct with respect to machinery
Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 287 IPC at a Glance
Section 287 IPC deals with negligent conduct with respect to machinery. It is bailable and non-cognizable, triable by any Magistrate; from 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 289 BNS.
Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or fine, or both.
Section 287 IPC Bare Act Text
287. Negligent conduct with respect to machinery
Whoever does, with any machinery, 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 machinery in his possession or under his care as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life from such machinery, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
Source: Section 287, Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 287 IPC in Simple Words
Section 287 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) punishes doing any act with any machinery 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 omitting to take such order with any machinery in possession or under care as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life from such machinery.
The punishment under the IPC is imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
Under the First Schedule to the Code of Criminal Procedure, the offence is non-cognizable, bailable, and triable by any Magistrate.
Ingredients of Section 287 IPC
- Dealing with any machinery
- Doing any act with that machinery 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 omitting to take such order with any machinery in possession or under care as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life from such machinery
Punishment Under Section 287 IPC
Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or fine, or both.
Fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, alone or with imprisonment.
Negligent conduct with respect to machinery is punishable with imprisonment of either description for up to six months, or with fine of up to one thousand rupees, or with both.
Example of Section 287 IPC
When Section 287 IPC Does Not Apply
- Section 287 IPC does not apply when the object involved was a simple manual hand tool rather than machinery.
- Section 287 IPC does not apply when the machinery was operated and maintained with adequate safety precautions so that human life was not endangered.
- Section 287 IPC does not apply when the accused neither performed any act with the machinery nor had the machinery in his possession or under his care.
Section 287 IPC in the BNS
Section 287 IPC is now covered under Section 289 BNS.
Section 287 IPC corresponds to Section 289 BNS. The substantive definition of the offence and the maximum imprisonment of six months remain unchanged. The maximum fine has increased from one thousand rupees under Section 287 IPC to five thousand rupees under Section 289 BNS.
View detailed comparison (IPC 287 vs BNS 289) →FAQs on Section 287 IPC
What does Section 287 IPC punish?▼
Section 287 IPC punishes whoever does with any machinery 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 machinery in his possession or under his care as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life from such machinery.
What is the punishment under Section 287 IPC?▼
The punishment under Section 287 IPC is imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
What is the punishment under Section 289 BNS?▼
The punishment under Section 289 BNS is imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both.
Does Section 287 IPC apply to supervisors who do not own the machinery?▼
Yes. The omission limb explicitly includes any machinery in a person's possession or under his care, so it can apply to a supervisor or operator who has the machinery under his care without owning it.
Does Section 287 IPC require proof that an accident or bodily injury actually occurred?▼
No. The offence is complete when the rash or negligent handling endangers human life or creates a likelihood of injury, or when the omission creates probable danger to human life, even if no accident occurred.
Is Section 287 IPC cognizable and bailable?▼
Under the First Schedule to the Code of Criminal Procedure, an offence under Section 287 IPC is non-cognizable, bailable, and triable by any Magistrate.
Can an offence under Section 287 IPC be compounded?▼
No. Section 287 IPC is not compoundable under Section 320 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·