BNS Section 193: Liability of owner, occupier, etc., of land on which an unlawful assembly or riot takes place

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter 11: Of Offences Against the Public Tranquillity

Also available in: हिंदी

193. (1) Whenever any unlawful assembly or riot takes place, the owner or occupier of the land upon which such unlawful assembly is held, or such riot is committed, and any person having or claiming an interest in such land, shall be punishable with fine not exceeding one thousand rupees, if he or his agent or manager, knowing that such offence is being or has been committed, or having reason to believe it is likely to be committed, do not give the earliest notice thereof in his or their power to the officer in charge at the nearest police station, and do not, in the case of his or their having reason to believe that it was about to be committed, use all lawful means in his or their power to prevent it and, in the event of its taking place, do not use all lawful means in his or their power to disperse or suppress the riot or unlawful assembly.

(2) Whenever a riot is committed for the benefit or on behalf of any person who is the owner or occupier of any land respecting which such riot takes place or who claims any interest in such land, or in the subject of any dispute which gave rise to the riot, or who has accepted or derived any benefit therefrom, such person shall be punishable with fine, if he or his agent or manager, having reason to believe that such riot was likely to be committed or that the unlawful assembly by which such riot was committed was likely to be held, shall not respectively use all lawful means in his or their power to prevent such assembly or riot from taking place, and for suppressing and dispersing the same.

(3) Whenever a riot is committed for the benefit or on behalf of any person who is the owner or occupier of any land respecting which such riot takes place, or who claims any interest in such land, or in the subject of any dispute which gave rise to the riot, or who has accepted or derived any benefit therefrom, the agent or manager of such person shall be punishable with fine, if such agent or manager, having reason to believe that such riot was likely to be committed, or that the unlawful assembly by which such riot was committed was likely to be held, shall not use all lawful means in his power to prevent such riot or assembly from taking place and for suppressing and dispersing the same.

Study: explanations and related material

Replaces IPC 154, IPC 155, IPC 156. IPC → BNS converterSource: BPR&D BNS–IPC corresponding section table (UP Police, 2024-06-28)

Punishment, bail and trial

193(1)Owner or occupier of land not giving information of riot, etc.

Punishment
Fine of 1,000 rupees.
Cognizable or not
Non‑cognizable
Bailable or not
Bailable
Triable by
Any Magistrate

193(2)Person for whose benefit or on whose behalf a riot takes place not using all lawful means to prevent it.

Punishment
Fine.
Cognizable or not
Non‑cognizable
Bailable or not
Bailable
Triable by
Any Magistrate

193(3)Agent of owner or occupier for whose benefit a riot is committed not using all lawful means to prevent it.

Punishment
Fine.
Cognizable or not
Non‑cognizable
Bailable or not
Bailable
Triable by
Any Magistrate

Source: BNSS First Schedule, Gazette of India, 25 December 2023, p. 171. The Schedule gives the substance of the section, not its full definition, and a State may have amended the classification for its territory. See it in the full First Schedule

Official reference: Ministry of Home Affairs: Gazette text, 25 December 2023 — source link checked: 2 October 2026.Recorded edition / snapshot date: 2024-07-01.Mobile-app reference import; the recorded snapshot date is not a fresh legal-currency guarantee. The linked government text is an independent authoritative reference, not certification that this website reproduces the same edition. The source link was checked, not every provision or subsequent amendment. Check commencement notifications, savings and jurisdiction-specific variations separately.

This text is for reference, not legal advice. Consult the official source for the authoritative text.

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