Question

Principle: Inducing any animal to move or to change its motion and thereby intentionally causing fear of injury or annoyance to others by such act, is an offence of use of criminal force.
Facts: X incites his dog to chase and run after his neighbour Y, to teach Y to stay away from him. The act is done without neighbour's consent and against his will.

• A. X has committed no offence
• B. X has committed no offence because no harm is caused to Y
• C. X has committed no offence because he intended only to put fear in the mind of Y
• D. X has committed an offence of use of criminal force

Hint:

Actions that cause fear or annoyance, even without physical harm, are considered criminal force if done without consent.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

According to the principle, any act involving the use of an animal to cause fear or annoyance is considered an offence under criminal law. Here, X incited his dog to chase and run after Y, even though no physical harm was caused. The principle does not require the act to result in physical injury; causing fear or annoyance through such an act is sufficient to constitute criminal force. Therefore, even though Y was not physically hurt, X's use of the dog to create fear is a violation under criminal law, and X has committed an offence of criminal force.
Option (A) is incorrect because X’s act of inciting the dog caused fear to Y, which is a criminal act. Option (B) is incorrect because the absence of physical harm does not negate the offence of criminal force. Option (C) is incorrect because the act of instilling fear is sufficient to be considered criminal force, even if the intention was to only cause fear and not physical harm.