BNSS Section 154 — Person to whom order is addressed to obey or show cause

Summary

If an order is issued against you, you must either do what the order says, within the time and in the way it specifies, or you must appear in court as directed and explain why you should not have to follow the order. You may be allowed to appear or be heard through audio-video conferencing.

Official Text

The person against whom such order is made shall—

(a) perform, within the time and in the manner specified in the order, the act directed thereby; or

(b) appear in accordance with such order and show cause against the same; and such appearance or hearing may be permitted through audio-video conferencing.

Referred to by

• BNSS §33 — Public to give information of certain offences
• BNSS §155 — Penalty for failure to comply with section 154
• BNSS §531 — Repeal and savings

Related Judgments

• IMRAN PRATAPGADHI vs STATE OF GUJARAT AND ANR — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• STATE OF KARNATAKA vs T.N. SUDHAKAR REDDY — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• OM PRAKASH AMBADKAR vs THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA & ORS — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• SUJAL VISHWAS ATTAVAR & ANR. vs THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA & ORS — Supreme Court of India (2026)
• UJJAWAL KISHORE DIXIT vs STATE (NCT OF DELHI) AND ANR — Delhi High Court (2025)
• The Hon’ble Justice Jay Sengupta; C.R.R. 1510 of 2025; Arjun Singh vs State of West Bengal and Others., With, WPA 7369 of 2025, Arjun Singh — Calcutta High Court (Kolkata Principal Seat) (2025)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• CrPC §135 — Person to whom order is addressed to obey or show cause