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

contempt's the lawful authority public servants

Criminal

Punishment

Imprisonment up to 3 years and fine

As the section puts it: “shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine”

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

ABCD vs UNION OF INDIA & ORS — Supreme Court of India (2019)
IN RE: PERRY KANSAGRA vs IN RE: PERRY KANSAGRA — Supreme Court of India (2022)
RAM DHAN vs STATE OF U.P. AND ANR — Supreme Court of India (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