Section 33 of the BNS provides that an act is not considered an offense if it causes only minor or trivial harm, such that a reasonable person would not complain about it. This provision acknowledges that not all minor irritations or inconveniences should lead to criminal liability.
Key Provisions:
If an act: Causes harm, or Is intended to cause harm, or Is known to be likely to cause harm, it shall not be treated as an offense if the harm is so insignificant that a person of ordinary sense and calmness would not complain.
How It Protects:
Prevents over-criminalization of trivial actions.
Encourages tolerance and reasonableness in social interactions.
Helps courts focus on genuinely harmful or serious matters.
Example:
Accidentally bumping into someone lightly in a crowded place is not an offense.
If a person brushes against another while passing by, causing no real injury, it is not criminal.
A minor verbal inconvenience or irritation that causes no real harm would not qualify as an offense under this section.