IPC Section 220 — Commitment for trial or confinement by person having authority who knows that he is acting contrary to law

Summary

A person who holds a legal position that allows them to send someone to trial or to jail, or to keep someone in jail, and who uses that power dishonestly or with bad intent to send or keep a person in jail, while knowing that doing so is against the law, can be punished. The punishment may be imprisonment for up to seven years, a fine, or both.

Official Text

Whoever, being in any office which gives him legal authority to commit persons for trial or to confinement, or to keep persons in confinement, corruptly or maliciously commits any person for trial or to confinement, or keeps any person in confinement, in the exercise of that authority, knowing that in so doing he is acting contrary to law, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both.

Related Judgments

• RIZWAN AHMED JAVED SHAIKH AND ORS v. JAMMAL PATEL AND ORS. MAY12,2001 B — Supreme Court of India (2001)
• CRL A/313/2001 — Madras High Court (2001)
• CRL A/677/1997 — Madras High Court (1997)
• .. Appellant/Sole Accused vs State rep.by — Madras High Court ()
• CRL A/735/2004 — Madras High Court (2004)
• SC (2025) Vol.4 p.1816 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• S.C.R. 133 SURENDERA MISHRA v. STATE OF JHARKHAND — Supreme Court of India (2011)
• .. Petitioner/Accused No.1 vs 1. State (S.I. of Police), — Madras High Court (2013)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• BNS §258 — Commitment for trial or confinement by person having authority who knows that he is acting contrary to law