IPC Section 466 — Forgery of record of Court or of public register, etc.

Summary

This section makes it a crime to forge a document or electronic record that claims to be an official court record or proceeding, a birth, baptism, marriage, or burial register, or any register kept by a public servant in their official role. It also covers forging a certificate or document that appears to be made by a public servant in their official capacity, or an authority to start or defend a lawsuit, take any legal steps, confess judgment, or a power of attorney. A person who does this can be sent to prison for up to seven years and must also pay a fine.

Official Text

Whoever forges a document or electronic record, purporting to be a record or proceeding of or in a Court of Justice, or a register of birth, baptism, marriage or burial, or a register kept by a public servant as such, or a certificate or document purporting to be made by a public servant in his official capacity, or an authority to institute or defend a suit, or to take any proceedings therein, or to confess judgment, or a power of attorney, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Referred to by

• IPC §474 — Having possession of document described in section 466 or 467, knowing it to be forged and intending to use it genuine

Related Judgments

• S. L. GOSWAMI vs HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH AT JABALPUR — Supreme Court of India (1978)
• STATE OF U.P. vs RANJIT SINGH — Supreme Court of India (1999)
• SHEONANDAN PASWAN vs STATE OF BIHAR — Supreme Court of India (1982)
• SATISH MEHRA vs STATE OF N.C.T. OF DELHI & ANR — Supreme Court of India (2012)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• BNS §337 — Forgery of record of Court or of public register, etc