IPC 466→BNS 337

IPC 466 to BNS 337: Forgery of record of Court or of public register, etc.

Section 466 IPC (1860) replaced by Section 337 BNS (2023)

View IPC Section 466 →View BNS Section 337 →

IPC 466 to BNS 337 at a Glance

Section 466 IPC (Forgery of record of Court or of public register, etc) is now Section 337 BNS, in force from 1 July 2024. Under the BNS it is non-bailable and non-cognizable. What changed is set out below.

What Changed From IPC 466 to BNS 337?

Section 466 IPC corresponds to Section 337 BNS. The maximum term of imprisonment remains seven years, and the offender is also liable to fine. Section 337 BNS expands the statutory scope by adding an identity document issued by Government including voter identity card or Aadhaar Card. It omits baptism from the listed registers and refers to a Court rather than a Court of Justice. The Explanation relating to electronic registers remains unchanged.

IPC 466 vs BNS 337: Comparison Table

AspectIPC 1860 (repealed)BNS 2023 (in force)
Section466337
OffenceForgery of record of Court or of public register, etc.Same
PunishmentImprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years.Same
FineThe offender is also liable to fine. The statute does not prescribe a mandatory fine or fix a maximum amount.Same
BailNon-BailableSame
CognizanceNon-CognizableSame
CompoundableNon-CompoundableSame
Triable ByMagistrate of the first classSame

IPC 466 and BNS 337: Bare Act Text Side by Side

IPC 1860 (repealed)

Section 466, IPC 1860

466. Forgery of record of Court or of public register, etc.—Whoever forges a document or an 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. Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, “register” includes any list, data or record of any entries maintained in the electronic form as defined in clause (r) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000).
BNS 2023 (in force)

Section 337, BNS 2023

Whoever forges a document or an electronic record, purporting to be a record or proceeding of or in a Court or an identity document issued by Government including voter identity card or Aadhaar Card, or a register of birth, 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. Explanation.—For the purposes of this section, “register” includes any list, data or record of any entries maintained in the electronic form as defined in clause (r) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000 (21 of 2000).

Ingredients: IPC 466 vs BNS 337

Under IPC 466
  1. The accused committed forgery as defined in Section 463 IPC by making a false document or electronic record under Section 464 IPC
  2. The document or electronic record purported 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 in that capacity, or an official certificate, or an authority to conduct legal proceedings or confess judgment, or a power of attorney
Under BNS 337
  1. Committing forgery of a document or electronic record under Section 335 BNS and Section 336(1) BNS
  2. The document or record purports to be a record or proceeding of or in a Court, or an identity document issued by Government including voter identity card or Aadhaar Card, or a register of birth, marriage or burial, or a register kept by a public servant as such, or an official certificate, authority for proceedings or power of attorney

What IPC 466 to BNS 337 Means for Pending Cases

For Section 466 IPC (now Section 337 BNS): under Section 337 BNS, the scope of public record forgery is expanded to explicitly include government identity documents such as voter identity cards and Aadhaar Cards, while registers of baptism are omitted. A charge for an act done after the BNS came into force cites Section 337 BNS and carries imprisonment for up to seven years with liability to fine.

FAQs: IPC 466 to BNS 337

What changed in the offence of forging court records and public registers when Section 466 IPC became Section 337 BNS?▼

Section 337 BNS adds identity documents issued by Government, including voter identity cards and Aadhaar Cards, to the documents covered. It also omits baptism from the list of registers and replaces Court of Justice with Court, while keeping the punishment of imprisonment for up to seven years and liability to fine.

Where does Section 466 IPC sit in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?▼

It sits in Section 337 BNS, in Chapter XVIII, Of Offences Relating to Documents and to Property Marks.

Does Section 466 IPC or Section 337 BNS apply to an act done before 1 July 2024?▼

Section 466 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 466 IPC. Section 337 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 ·