IPC Section 263A — Prohibition of fictitious stamps

offences relating to coin and government stamps

Criminal

Summary

This section makes it illegal to create, sell, use, or possess any fake postage stamp that looks like it was issued by the government. It also bans making or having any tools or materials used to create such fake stamps. Anyone who breaks this rule can be fined up to two hundred rupees. Any fake stamps, tools, or materials involved can be taken away and kept by the authorities.

Official Text

Whoever:
makes, knowingly utters, deals in or sells any fictitious stamp, or knowingly uses for any postal purpose any fictitious stamp, or
has in his possession, without lawful excuse, any fictitious stamp, or
makes or, without lawful excuse, has in his possession any die, plate, instrument or materials for making any fictitious stamp, shall be punished with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
Any such stamp, die, plate, instrument or materials in the possession of any person for making any fictitious stamp may be seized and, if seized shall be forfeited.
In this section “fictitious stamp” means any stamp falsely purporting to be issued by Government for the purpose of denoting a rate of postage, or any facsimile or imitation or representation, whether on paper or otherwise, of any stamp issued by Government for that purpose.
In this section and also in sections 255 to 263, both inclusive, the word “Government”, when used in connection with, or in reference to, any stamp issued for the purpose of denoting a rate of postage, shall, notwithstanding anything in section 17, be deemed to include the person or persons authorized by law to administer executive Government in any part of India, and also in any part of Her Majesty’s dominions or in any foreign country.

Related Judgments

  • S.C.R. COMMISSIONER OF POLICE v. RAJ KUMAR — Supreme Court of India (2021)
  • COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, NEW DELHI v. MEHAR 443 SINGH — Supreme Court of India (2013)
  • MOHD HAKIM v. STATE (NCT OF DELHI) — High Court of Delhi (2021)
  • NAVTEJ SINGH JOHAR v. UOI THR. SECY. MINISTRY OF LAW & JUSTICE — Supreme Court of India (2018)
  • SC (1956) Vol.1 p.506 — Supreme Court of India (1956)
  • SONI DEVRAJBHAI BABUBHAI v. STATE OF GUJARAT AND ORS. AUGUST 28 — Supreme Court of India (1991)
  • S.C.R. 277 GURDIP SINGH v. STATE OF PUNJAB — Supreme Court of India (2013)
  • SC (2025) Vol.2 p.696 — Supreme Court of India (2025)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

  • BNS §186 — Prohibition of fictitious stamps