IPC Section 140 — Wearing garb or carrying token used by soldier, sailor or airman

Summary

If a person is not a soldier, sailor, or airman in India’s military, naval, or air services, and they wear clothing or carry an item that looks like what such a service member would use, with the intent to make others believe they are actually a soldier, sailor, or airman, they commit an offence. The punishment for this can be imprisonment for up to three months, a fine of up to five hundred rupees, or both.

Official Text

Whoever, not being a soldier, sailor or airman in the Military, Naval or Air service of the Government of India, wears any garb or carries any token resembling any garb or token used by such a soldier, sailor or airman with the intention that it may be believed that he is such a soldier, sailor or airman, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.

Related Judgments

• S.C.R. 613 UNION OF INDIA v. V. SRI HARAN — Supreme Court of India (2015)
• Petitioner vs 1.The District Collector, — Madras High Court (2002)
• .. Petitioner vs 1 The Corporation of Chennai — Madras High Court (2015)
• CPL MUKESH SINGH RAJPOOT vs UNION OF INDIA & ORS. — High Court of Delhi (2020)
• ...Appellant/Plaintiff vs A.R.Venkidusamy — Madras High Court (2005)
• … Appellants/Defendants 1 to 3 and 8 vs 1. Manickkammal — Madras High Court (2002)
• .. Appellant/5th defendant vs 1. Ramayammal — Madras High Court (1992)
• SA/997/2006 — Madras High Court (2006)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• BNS §168 — Wearing garb or carrying token used by soldier, sailor or airman