Code
Whoever intentionally uses force to any person, without that person’s
consent, in order to the committing of any offence, or intending by the use of such force to cause, or
knowing it to be likely that by the use of such force he will cause injury, fear or annoyance to the person
to whom the force is used, is said to use criminal force to that other.Illustrations.(a) Z is sitting in a moored boat on a river. A unfastens the moorings, and thus intentionally causes
the boat to drift down the stream. Here A intentionally causes motion to Z, and he does this by disposing
substances in such a manner that the motion is produced without any other action on any person’s part. A
has therefore intentionally used force to Z; and if he has done so without Z’s consent, in order to the
committing of any offence, or intending or knowing it to be likely that this use of force will cause injury,
fear or annoyance to Z, A has used criminal force to Z.(b) Z is riding in a chariot. A lashes Z’s horses, and thereby causes them to quicken their pace. Here
A has caused change of motion to Z by inducing the animals to change their motion. A has therefore used
force to Z; and if A has done this without Z’s consent, intending or knowing it to be likely that he may
thereby injure, frighten or annoy Z, A has used criminal force to Z.(c) Z is riding in a palanquin. A, intending to rob Z, seizes the pole and stops the palanquin. Here A
has caused cessation of motion to Z, and he has done this by his own bodily power. A has therefore used
force to Z; and as A has acted thus intentionally, without Z’s consent, in order to the commission of an
offence. A has used criminal force to Z.(d) A intentionally pushes against Z in the street. Here A has by his own bodily power moved his
own person so as to bring it into contact with Z. He has therefore intentionally used force to Z; and if he
has done so without Z’s consent, intending or knowing it to be likely that he may thereby injure, frighten
or annoy Z, he has used criminal force to Z.(e) A throws a stone, intending or knowing it to be likely that the stone will be thus brought into
contact with Z, or with Z’s clothes, or with something carried by Z, or that it will strike water and dash up
the water against Z’s clothes or something carried by Z. Here, if the throwing of the stone produce the
effect of causing any substance to come into contact with Z, or Z’s clothes, A has used force to Z, and if
he did so without Z’s consent, intending thereby to injure, frighten or annoy Z, he has used criminal force
to Z.(f) A intentionally pulls up a woman’s veil. Here A intentionally uses force to her, and if he does so
without her consent intending or knowing it to be likely that he may thereby injure, frighten or annoy her,
he has used criminal force to her.(g) Z is bathing. A pours into the bath water which he knows to be boiling. Here A intentionally by
his own bodily power causes such motion in the boiling water as brings that water into contact with Z, or
with other water so situated that such contact must affect Z’s sense of feeling; A has therefore
intentionally used force to Z; and if he has done this without Z’s consent intending or knowing it to be
likely that he may thereby cause injury, fear or annoyance to Z, A has used criminal force.(h) A incites a dog to spring upon Z, without Z’s consent. Here, if A intends to cause injury, fear or
annoyance to Z, he uses criminal force to Z.
