IPC 187 to BNS 222: Omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give assistance

Section 187 IPC (1860) replaced by Section 222 BNS (2023)

View IPC Section 187 →View BNS Section 222 →

IPC 187 to BNS 222 at a Glance

Section 187 IPC (Omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give assistance) is now Section 222 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 187 to BNS 222?

Section 187 IPC is now Section 222 BNS, with the same title and the same offence. Section 222 BNS sets out the punishment in two clauses, one for the ordinary case and one for the case where the assistance is demanded. It raises the fine from two hundred rupees to two thousand five hundred rupees in the first clause and from five hundred rupees to five thousand rupees in the second. The imprisonment terms of one month and six months are unchanged. The second clause also refers to process issued by a Court where the IPC refers to a Court of Justice.

IPC 187 vs BNS 222: Comparison Table

Aspect	IPC 1860 (repealed)	BNS 2023 (in force)
Section	187	222
Offence	Omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give assistance	Same
Punishment	Simple imprisonment for up to one month. Where the assistance is demanded by a public servant legally competent to make the demand for one of the listed purposes, simple imprisonment for up to six months.	Simple imprisonment for up to one month under clause (a). Where the assistance is demanded by a public servant legally competent to make the demand for one of the listed purposes under clause (b), simple imprisonment for up to six months.
Fine	Fine of up to two hundred rupees in the ordinary case and up to five hundred rupees where the higher punishment applies. The offender may be punished with fine alone or with both imprisonment and fine.	Fine of up to two thousand five hundred rupees under clause (a), and up to five thousand rupees under clause (b). The offender may be punished with fine alone or with both imprisonment and fine.
Bail	Bailable	Same
Cognizance	Non-Cognizable	Same
Compoundable	Non-Compoundable	Same
Triable By	Any Magistrate	Same

IPC 187 and BNS 222: Bare Act Text Side by Side

IPC 1860 (repealed)

Section 187, IPC 1860

187. Omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give assistance.—Whoever, being bound by law to render or furnish assistance to any public servant in the execution of his public duty, intentionally omits to give such assistance, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both; and if such assistance be demanded of him by a public servant legally competent to make such demand for the purposes of executing any process lawfully issued by a Court of Justice, or of preventing the commission of an offence, or suppressing a riot, or affray, or of apprehending a person charged with or guilty of an offence, or of having escaped from lawful custody, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.

BNS 2023 (in force)

Section 222, BNS 2023

Whoever, being bound by law to render or furnish assistance to any public servant in the execution of his public duty, intentionally omits to give such assistance,— (a) shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to two thousand and five hundred rupees, or with both; (b) and where such assistance be demanded of him by a public servant legally competent to make such demand for the purposes of executing any process lawfully issued by a Court or of preventing the commission of an offence, or suppressing a riot, or affray, or of apprehending a person charged with or guilty of an offence, or of having escaped from lawful custody, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both.

Ingredients: IPC 187 vs BNS 222

Under IPC 187

The accused was bound by law to render or furnish assistance to a public servant
The assistance was for the public servant in the execution of his public duty
The accused intentionally omitted to give that assistance
For the higher punishment, the assistance was demanded by a public servant legally competent to make the demand
For the higher punishment, the demand was for executing process lawfully issued by a Court of Justice, preventing an offence, suppressing a riot or affray, or apprehending a person charged with or guilty of an offence or who has escaped from lawful custody

Under BNS 222

The accused, being bound by law to assist a public servant in the execution of his public duty, intentionally omitted to give that assistance
Where the higher punishment is sought, the assistance was demanded by a legally competent public servant for one of the listed purposes

What IPC 187 to BNS 222 Means for Pending Cases

For Section 187 IPC (now Section 222 BNS): the offence and the imprisonment terms are unchanged, but the fine limits are higher. For an act done after the BNS came into force, the charge cites Section 222 BNS. The fine can be up to two thousand five hundred rupees in the ordinary case and up to five thousand rupees where the assistance was demanded for one of the listed purposes.

FAQs: IPC 187 to BNS 222

What changed when Section 187 IPC became Section 222 BNS?▼

The fine limits. Section 222 BNS raises the fine from two hundred rupees to two thousand five hundred rupees and from five hundred rupees to five thousand rupees. The title, the offence and the imprisonment terms of one month and six months stay the same.

Where does Section 187 IPC sit in the BNS?▼

In Section 222 BNS, in Chapter XIII, Of Contempts of the Lawful Authority of Public Servants.

Does Section 187 IPC or Section 222 BNS apply to an act done before 1 July 2024?▼

Section 187 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 187 IPC. Section 222 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 ·