IPC Section 154 — Owner or occupier of land on which an unlawful assembly is held

offences against the public tranquillity

Criminal

Summary

If an unlawful assembly or riot happens on your land, you as the owner or occupier—or anyone with a claimed interest in that land—can be fined up to one thousand rupees. This applies if you, your agent, or your manager knew the offence was happening or had happened, or had reason to believe it was likely to happen, and did not give the earliest possible notice to the head officer at the nearest police station. It also applies if you had reason to believe it was about to happen and did not use all lawful means available to prevent it, or, once it started, did not use all lawful means to disperse or stop the riot or unlawful assembly.

Official Text

Whenever any unlawful assembly or riot takes place, the owner or occupier of the land upon which such unlawful assembly is held, or such riot is committed, and any person having or claiming an interest in such land, shall be punishable with fine not exceeding one thousand rupees, if he or his agent or manager, knowing that such offence is being or has been committed, or having reason to believe it is likely to be committed, do not give the earliest notice thereof in his or their power to the principal officer at the nearest police-station, and do not, in the case of his or their having reason to believe that it was about to be committed, use all lawful means in his or their power to prevent it and, in the event of its taking place, do not use all lawful means in his or their power to disperse or suppress the riot or unlawful assembly.

Related Judgments

  • M/S. CONTINENTAL CONSTRUCTION LTD v. STATE OF U.P. SEPTEMBER 22, 2003 — Supreme Court of India (S)
  • SOMU v. THE STATE REP. BY THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF POLICE — Supreme Court of India (2020)
  • CRL OP(MD)/7922/2019 — Madras High Court ()
  • SINHA v. UNION OF INDIA AND ORS. SEPTEMBER 13, 1991 — Supreme Court of India (S)
  • S.C.R. 477 ROY FERNANDES v. STATE OF GOA AND ORS — Supreme Court of India (2012)
  • WP/14546/2019 — Madras High Court (2019)
  • Appellant in Crl.A.210/2009 vs State rep by — Madras High Court (2008)
  • .. Appellant/Accused No.1 vs State represented by, — Madras High Court ()

Old <-> New Code Mapping

  • BNS §193 — Liability of owner, occupier, etc., of land on which an unlawful assembly or riot takes place