Section 119-123

Sections 119–123 elaborate the aggravated forms of voluntarily causing hurt, each attaching an additional element that justifies substantially higher punishment. Section 119 (grievous hurt by dangerous weapon) imposes up to 10 years — the weapon elevates the moral culpability because the offender chose an instrument likely to cause death. Section 121 is uniquely protective of public safety — any act that endangers the life or personal safety of others in a public place (reckless driving in a crowd, firing in public, releasing dangerous chemicals) attracts punishment, even without a specific victim being hurt. This provision is the criminal law's response to mass-endangerment. Sections 122 and 123 address hurt used instrumentally — as a means to extort property or extort confessions. Section 122 (hurt to extort) covers the classic kidnapping-for-ransom scenario where victims are physically harmed to pressure families into paying. Section 123 (hurt to extort confession) has powerful constitutional dimensions — it directly addresses the practice of 'third degree' by police and other actors, criminalising torture used to extract confessions. Read with Section 176 (which makes confessions obtained by force inadmissible in court), Section 123 creates both a criminal prohibition and an evidentiary consequence for torture.