IPC 180→BNS 215

IPC 180 to BNS 215: Refusing to sign statement

Section 180 IPC (1860) replaced by Section 215 BNS (2023)

View IPC Section 180 →View BNS Section 215 →

IPC 180 to BNS 215 at a Glance

Section 180 IPC (Refusing to sign statement) is now Section 215 BNS, in force from 1 July 2024. Under the BNS it is bailable and non-cognizable. What changed is set out below.

What Changed From IPC 180 to BNS 215?

Section 180 IPC is now Section 215 BNS, with the same title and the same words. The one change is the fine: the limit is raised from five hundred rupees to three thousand rupees. The term of simple imprisonment is still up to three months.

IPC 180 vs BNS 215: Comparison Table

AspectIPC 1860 (repealed)BNS 2023 (in force)
Section180215
OffenceRefusing to sign statementSame
PunishmentSimple imprisonment for up to three months.Same
FineFine of up to five hundred rupees. The offender may be punished with fine alone or with both imprisonment and fine.Fine of up to three thousand rupees. The offender may be punished with fine alone or with both imprisonment and fine.
BailBailableSame
CognizanceNon-CognizableSame
CompoundableNon-CompoundableSame
Triable ByThe Court in which the offence is committed, subject to the provisions of Chapter XXVI; or, if not committed in a Court, any MagistrateSame

IPC 180 and BNS 215: Bare Act Text Side by Side

IPC 1860 (repealed)

Section 180, IPC 1860

180. Refusing to sign statement.—Whoever refuses to sign any statement made by him, when required to sign that statement by a public servant legally competent to require that he shall sign that statement, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.
BNS 2023 (in force)

Section 215, BNS 2023

Whoever refuses to sign any statement made by him, when required to sign that statement by a public servant legally competent to require that he shall sign that statement, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to three thousand rupees, or with both.

Ingredients: IPC 180 vs BNS 215

Under IPC 180
  1. The accused made a statement
  2. A public servant required the accused to sign that statement
  3. The public servant was legally competent to require that the accused sign it
  4. The accused refused to sign the statement
Under BNS 215
  1. A statement made by the accused, which a legally competent public servant required the accused to sign
  2. Refusal by the accused to sign that statement

What IPC 180 to BNS 215 Means for Pending Cases

For Section 180 IPC (now Section 215 BNS): the offence is the same but the fine can now go up to three thousand rupees, so a charge for an act done after the BNS came into force cites Section 215 BNS and carries that higher limit. The term of simple imprisonment is unchanged.

FAQs: IPC 180 to BNS 215

What changed when Section 180 IPC became Section 215 BNS?▼

The number and the fine limit. Section 215 BNS repeats the title and the words of Section 180 IPC, but the fine may now extend to three thousand rupees instead of five hundred rupees. The simple imprisonment limit of three months is unchanged.

Where does Section 180 IPC sit in the BNS?▼

In Section 215 BNS, in Chapter XIII, Of Contempts of the Lawful Authority of Public Servants.

Does Section 180 IPC or Section 215 BNS apply to an act done before 1 July 2024?▼

Section 180 IPC. Section 358 BNS repealed the IPC from 1 July 2024 but saves any liability already incurred under it, so an act done before that date is still dealt with under Section 180 IPC. Section 215 BNS governs acts done on or after 1 July 2024.

Disclaimer: This comparison is for informational purposes only. The new criminal laws came into effect on 1 July 2024. Consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

Sources: Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·