IPC Section 21 — Public servant

Summary

This section defines the term "public servant" by listing the types of people who are considered public servants under the law. It states that the term refers to anyone who fits into any of the categories described in the following parts of the section.

Official Text

The words “public servant” denote a person falling under any of the descriptions hereinafter following, namely:

Referred to by

• Companies Act §427 — President, Members, officers, etc., to be public servants
• Consumer Protection Act §95 — Presidents, members, Chief Commissioner, Commissioner and certain officers to be public servants
• Information Technology Act §82 — Controller, Deputy Controller and Assistant Controller to be public servants

Related Judgments

• akb; 07.05; Ct. No. 29; C.R.R. 4317 of 2022; Nimai Chandra Ghosh & Anr vs The State of West Bengal, Mr. Ankit Agarwala, Ms. Alotriya Mukherjee — Calcutta High Court (Kolkata Principal Seat) (2025)
• MANISH TRIVEDI vs STATE OF RAJASTHAN — Supreme Court of India (2013)
• STATE OF WEST BENGAL vs SHYAMADAS BANERJEE & ANOTHER — Supreme Court of India (2008)
• RAJIB RANJAN & ORS. vs R. VIJAYKUMAR — Supreme Court of India (2014)
• RAMESH BALKRISHNA KULKARNI vs STATE OF MAHARASHTRA — Supreme Court of India (1985)
• RAM KRISHAN AND ANOTHER vs THE STATE OF DELHI — Supreme Court of India (1956)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• BNS §2 — Definitions