IPC · Chapter XIV · Of offences affecting the public health, safety, convenience, decency and morals

IPC section 288 in the BNS

IPC 288BNS 290

IPC section 288, “Negligent conduct with respect to pulling down or repairing buildings”, is now BNS section 290 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in force from 1 July 2024.

What changed

From IPC 288 to BNS 290

Now BNS section 290, which also covers negligence in “constructing” a building, not only pulling down or repairing one. The duty is to take “measures” against probable danger (IPC: “order”), and the maximum fine rises from ₹1,000 to ₹5,000.

The official text

Old and new, side by side

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 288 Negligent conduct with respect to pulling down or repairing buildings

Whoever, in pulling down or repairing any building, knowingly or negligently omits to take such order with that building as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life from the fall of that building, or of any part thereof, 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.

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Section 290 Negligent conduct with respect to pulling down, repairing or constructing buildings, etc

Whoever, in pulling down, repairing or constructing any building, knowingly or negligently omits to take such measures with that building as is sufficient to guard against any probable danger to human life from the fall of that building, or of any part thereof, shall be punished with 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.

The texts are India Code’s. The amendment markers and footnotes of the official print are left out, so the old section reads as it stood when it was repealed; State amendments are not shown. The PDFs linked below carry the full history.

Old law or new?

Which one applies to a case

The BNS repealed the IPC from 1 July 2024 (section 358(1)). The repeal does not reach back: under section 358(2), penalties and punishments incurred for offences committed against the IPC still stand, and proceedings for them may be started, continued and enforced as if the IPC had not been repealed. An act done before 1 July 2024 is therefore dealt with under the IPC section; an act done on or after that date, under the BNS.