Himachal Pradesh High Court Upholds Six-Month Punishment For Injury To Public Servant Under Section 353 IPC

The Himachal Pradesh High Court held that an assault causing injury to a public servant while on official duty must be treated with serious deterrence, and a sentence of six months’ imprisonment is not excessive in the facts of the case. The petitioner attacked the Gram Panchayat Secretary with a stone and injured his eye during the Secretary’s official duty; the lower courts had convicted him under Sections 332 and 353 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. On revision, the High Court noted the victim’s version backed by medical evidence and rejected the defence of accidental fall or other distractions. Minor inconsistencies (such as alleged liquor consumption by the victim) did not vitiate the core assault finding. The Court emphasised that protecting public servants from hostile attacks in the course of duty is of high public importance and that deterrent sentencing must apply. (Live Law)