diff --git a/python/pyarrow/_parquet.pyx b/python/pyarrow/_parquet.pyx
index d9861f289b1..eb74dea852b 100644
--- a/python/pyarrow/_parquet.pyx
+++ b/python/pyarrow/_parquet.pyx
@@ -484,6 +484,8 @@ cdef class RowGroupMetaData:
         return True
 
     def column(self, int i):
+        if i < 0 or i >= self.num_columns:
+            raise IndexError('{0} out of bounds'.format(i))
         chunk = ColumnChunkMetaData()
         chunk.init(deref(self.metadata), i)
         return chunk
diff --git a/python/pyarrow/tests/test_parquet.py b/python/pyarrow/tests/test_parquet.py
index 3f7f4fd50ab..ca3fbc4c816 100644
--- a/python/pyarrow/tests/test_parquet.py
+++ b/python/pyarrow/tests/test_parquet.py
@@ -659,11 +659,23 @@ def test_parquet_metadata_api():
             assert isinstance(col_meta, pq.ColumnChunkMetaData)
             repr(col_meta)
 
+    with pytest.raises(IndexError):
+        meta.row_group(-1)
+
+    with pytest.raises(IndexError):
+        meta.row_group(meta.num_row_groups + 1)
+
     rg_meta = meta.row_group(0)
     assert rg_meta.num_rows == len(df)
     assert rg_meta.num_columns == ncols + 1  # +1 for index
     assert rg_meta.total_byte_size > 0
 
+    with pytest.raises(IndexError):
+        col_meta = rg_meta.column(-1)
+
+    with pytest.raises(IndexError):
+        col_meta = rg_meta.column(ncols + 2)
+
     col_meta = rg_meta.column(0)
     assert col_meta.file_offset > 0
     assert col_meta.file_path == ''  # created from BytesIO