BNS Section 198: Public servant disobeying law, with intent to cause injury to any person

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter 12: Of Offences by or Relating to Public Servants

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198. Whoever, being a public servant, knowingly disobeys any direction of the law as to the way in which he is to conduct himself as such public servant, intending to cause, or knowing it to be likely that he will by such disobedience, cause injury to any person, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.

Illustration. A, being an officer directed by law to take property in execution, in order to satisfy a decree pronounced in Z’s favour by a Court, knowingly disobeys that direction of law, with the knowledge that he is likely thereby to cause injury to Z. A has committed the offence defined in this section.

Study: explanations and related material

Replaces IPC 166. IPC → BNS converterSource: BPR&D BNS–IPC corresponding section table (UP Police, 2024-06-28)

Punishment, bail and trial

198Public servant disobeying direction of the law with intent to cause injury to any person.

Punishment
Simple imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both.
Cognizable or not
Non‑cognizable
Bailable or not
Bailable
Triable by
Magistrate of the first class

Source: BNSS First Schedule, Gazette of India, 25 December 2023, p. 172. 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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