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.

Related Judgments

• ...Petitioner/Sole Accused vs Veeramuthu — Madras High Court (2006)
• S. L. GOSWAMI v. HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH AT JABALPUR N — Supreme Court of India (1979)
• JANATA DAL v. H.S. CHOWDHAKY — Supreme Court of India (1991)
• STATE OF U.P v. RANJIT SINGH FEBRUARY 19, 1999 B — Supreme Court of India (1999)
• SC (1953) Vol.1 p.1188 — Supreme Court of India (1953)
• SHRI SUKHBIR SINGH BADAL v. BALWANT SINGH KHERA AND ORS — Supreme Court of India (2023)
• S.C.R. SUPREME COURT REPORTS 101 PURUSHOTTAMDAS DALMIA v. THE STATE OF — Supreme Court of India (1962)
• SHEONANDAN PASWAN v. STATE OF BIHAR & OTHERS D — Supreme Court of India (1983)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

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