IPC Section 178 — Refusing oath or affirmation when duly required by public servant to make it

Summary

If a person refuses to take an oath or make an affirmation promising to tell the truth, when a public servant who has the legal authority to do so asks them to take that oath or affirmation, that person can be punished. The punishment can be simple imprisonment for up to six months, or a fine of up to one thousand rupees, or both.

Official Text

Whoever refuses to bind himself by an oath or affirmation to state the truth, when required so to bind himself by a public servant legally competent to require that he shall so bind himself, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.

Related Judgments

• KIRAN BEDI & ORS v. COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY & ANR. JANUARY 4, 1989 B — Supreme Court of India (1989)
• M/S BANDEKAR BROTHERS PVT. LTD. & ANR v. PRASAD VASSUDEV KENI, ETC. ETC — Supreme Court of India (2020)
• SC (1957) Vol.1 p.423 — Supreme Court of India (1957)
• BABAN SINGH AND ANR v. JAGDISH SINGH & ORS. F — Supreme Court of India (1966)
• ... Petitioner vs 1.Inspector General of Registration, — Madras High Court (2007)
• .. Petitioner vs 1.The Secretary, — Madras High Court (2017)
• S.C.R. 312 STATE OF PUNJAB v. LABH SINGH — Supreme Court of India (2014)
• NATIONAL SMALL INDUSTRIES CORPORATION LTD v. STATE — Supreme Court of India (2008)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• BNS §213 — Refusing oath or affirmation when duly required by public servant to make it