mischief

A person commits mischief when, with intent to cause, or knowing that he is likely to cause, wrongful loss or damage to the public or any person, he destroys property or changes it so as to reduce its value or utility. It is not necessary that the property belong to the person harmed, and the offender may even be the owner of the property, as where he damages it to cheat an insurer.

Aggravated forms cover mischief by fire or explosive, mischief to animals, to irrigation works, and to public roads and navigation. In statutory interpretation the word has an unrelated sense: the “mischief” a statute was passed to remedy.

Example

Opening a neighbour's sluice gate to flood his crop with intent to cause him loss is mischief.

In Indian law

• Section 324, BNS (old ss.425 and 426 IPC)

See also

criminal trespass · mens rea · mischief rule

Read more in the study notes

• Public nuisance, mischief and criminal trespass (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita)
• Compounding of offences and plea bargaining (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita)
• Security for keeping the peace and good behaviour; maintenance of wives, children and parents (Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita)
• The right of private defence (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita)
• Offences against public tranquillity (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita)
• Defamation, criminal intimidation and insult (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita)