IPC Section 171 — Wearing garb or carrying token used by public servant with fraudulent intent

Summary

If a person does not belong to a specific group of government employees, and they wear clothing or carry a badge or item that looks like what that group uses, with the intent to make others think they are part of that group, or knowing that others are likely to think so, they can be punished. The punishment for this offence can be imprisonment for up to three months, or a fine of up to two hundred rupees, or both.

Official Text

Whoever, not belonging, to a certain class of public servants, wears any garb or carries any token resembling any garb or token used by that class of public servants, with the intention that it may be believed, or with the knowledge that it is likely to be believed, that he belongs to that class of public servants, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both.

Related Judgments

• I M.A. KOCHU DEVASSY v. KERALA — Supreme Court of India (1979)
• ...Petitioner vs 1.The Secretary, — Madras High Court (2013)
• S.C.R. 884 884 VIJAY KUMAR GHAI & ORS v. THE STATE OF WEST BENGAL & ORS — Supreme Court of India (2022)
• SC (1957) Vol.1 p.423 — Supreme Court of India (1957)
• M/S BANDEKAR BROTHERS PVT. LTD. & ANR v. PRASAD VASSUDEV KENI, ETC. ETC — Supreme Court of India (2020)
• KRISHAN KUMAR v. THE UNION OF INDIA — Supreme Court of India (1960)
• CRL RC/190/2008 — Madras High Court (2008)
• K. SATW ANT SINGH v. THE STATE OF PUNJAB — Supreme Court of India (1960)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• BNS §205 — Wearing garb or carrying token used by public servant with fraudulent intent