Legal Provisions of Section 437 of Indian Penal Code, 1860.
Mischief with intent to destroy or make unsafe a decked vessel or one of twenty tons burden:
Mischief with intent to destroy or make unsafe decked vessel or a vessel of twenty tons or more burden has been made punishable under this section. The section states that whoever commits mischief to either any decked vessel or any vessel of a burden of twenty tons or upwards, with the intention to either destroy or render unsafe the same or with the knowledge that it is likely that he will thereby destroy or render unsafe the same, shall be punished with simple or rigorous imprisonment for a term extending up to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
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ADVERTISEMENTS:
The section requires that mischief must be committed against any decked vessel or any vessel of a burden of twenty tons or more. The intention of the offender must be either to destroy the same or render the same unsafe, or he must have knowledge that it is likely that he will thereby destroy the same or render the same unsafe. The quantum of punishment prescribed shows that the offence under this section is a serious one. According to section 48 of the Indian Penal Code, ‘vessel’ denotes anything made for the conveyance by water of human beings or of property.
The offence under this section is cognizable, non-bailable and non-compoundable, and is triable by court of session.