IPC Section 181 — False statement on oath or affirmation to public servant or person authorized to administer an oath or affirmation

Summary

If you are required by law to take an oath or make an affirmation to tell the truth to a government official or another person legally allowed to administer that oath, and you then make a false statement to that official about the subject you swore to tell the truth about, you can be punished. This applies if you know the statement is false, believe it is false, or do not believe it is true. The punishment can be imprisonment for up to three years, along with a fine.

Official Text

Whoever, being legally bound by an oath or affirmation to state the truth on any subject to any public servant or other person authorized by law to administer such oath or affirmation, makes, to such public servant or other person as aforesaid, touching that subject, any statement which is false, and which he either knows or believes to be false or does not believe to be true, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Related Judgments

• M/S BANDEKAR BROTHERS PVT. LTD. & ANR v. PRASAD VASSUDEV KENI, ETC. ETC — Supreme Court of India (2020)
• 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)
• SC (1957) Vol.1 p.423 — Supreme Court of India (1957)
• SH. NARENDRA KUMAR SRIVASTAVA v. THE STATE OF BIHAR & ORS — Supreme Court of India (2019)
• SC (2001) Vol.3 p.750 — Supreme Court of India (2001)
• S.C.R. 1113 1113 NEW OKHLA INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY v. RAVINDRA KUMAR SINGHVI — Supreme Court of India (2022)
• 1st Respondent in Crl.R.C.1494/12 vs 1. The State of Tamil Nadu, — Madras High Court (2012)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• BNS §216 — False statement on oath or affirmation to public servant or person authorised to administer an oath or affirmation