BNS Section 163 — Abetment of desertion of soldier, sailor or airman

Summary

Whoever helps or encourages any officer, soldier, sailor, or airman in the Army, Navy, or Air Force of the Government of India to desert (that is, to leave military service without permission) commits an offence. The punishment for this is imprisonment of either kind for up to two years, or a fine, or both.

Official Text

Whoever abets the desertion of any officer, soldier, sailor or airman, in the Army, Navy or Air Force of the Government of India, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

Related Judgments

• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.11 p.291 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• S.C.R. 613 UNION OF INDIA v. V. SRI HARAN — Supreme Court of India (2015)
• SC (2025) Vol.2 p.80 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2024) Vol.6 p.129 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
• SC (2025) Vol.6 p.280 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1531 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SC (2024) Vol.8 p.670 — Supreme Court of India (2024)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• IPC §135 — Abetment of desertion of soldier, sailor or airman