BNS Section 222 — Omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give assistance

CHAPTER XIII OF CONTEMPTS OF THE LAWFUL AUTHORITY OF PUBLIC SERVANTS

Criminal

Summary

Whoever is legally required to help a public servant carry out their official duties, and deliberately fails to provide that help, commits an offence under this section.

Under clause (a), the punishment for such an omission is simple imprisonment for up to one month, or a fine of up to two thousand five hundred rupees, or both.

Under clause (b), if the assistance was demanded by a public servant who is legally authorised to make that demand — for the purpose of executing a court-issued legal process, preventing an offence, suppressing a riot or affray, or apprehending a person charged with, guilty of, or escaped from lawful custody — the punishment is more severe: simple imprisonment for up to six months, or a fine of up to five thousand rupees, or both.

Official Text

Whoever, being bound by law to render or furnish assistance to any public servant in the execution of his public duty, intentionally omits to give such assistance,—

(a) shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to two thousand and five hundred rupees, or with both;

(b) and where such assistance be demanded of him by a public servant legally competent to make such demand for the purposes of executing any process lawfully issued by a Court or of preventing the commission of an offence, or suppressing a riot, or affray, or of apprehending a person charged with or guilty of an offence, or of having escaped from lawful custody, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, 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)
  • SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1531 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.6 p.280 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2024) Vol.8 p.670 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
  • SC (2024) Vol.6 p.129 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
  • SC (2025) Vol.7 p.105 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.4 p.2730 — Supreme Court of India (2025)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

  • IPC §187 — Omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give assistance