Section 151 BNS: Assaulting President, Governor, etc., with intent to compel or restrain exercise of any lawful power
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Section 151 BNS at a Glance
Section 151 BNS deals with assaulting President, Governor, etc., with intent to compel or restrain exercise of any lawful power. It is non-bailable and cognizable, triable by the Court of Session; it replaced Section 124 IPC on 1 July 2024.
Imprisonment of either description for up to seven years.
Section 151 BNS Bare Act Text
151. Assaulting President, Governor, etc., with intent to compel or restrain the exercise of any lawful power
Whoever, with the intention of inducing or compelling the President of India, or Governor of any State, to exercise or refrain from exercising in any manner any of the lawful powers of such President or Governor, assaults or wrongfully restrains, or attempts wrongfully to restrain, or overawes, by means of criminal force or the show of criminal force, or attempts so to overawe, such President or Governor, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Source: Section 151, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Section 151 BNS in Simple Words
Section 151 BNS of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) deals with assault, wrongful restraint, or overawing by criminal force or the show of criminal force against the President of India or the Governor of any State, when the act is done with the intention of inducing or compelling them to exercise or refrain from exercising any of their lawful powers. The law is aimed at protecting the independence of these constitutional offices from pressure through force or threat. This section applies only when the victim is the President of India or the Governor of a State, and the accused acts with a clear purpose linked to that person's lawful powers.
A casual scuffle or personal dispute will not be enough unless the prosecution can show the required intent. In practice, such cases are rare, but the provision has serious significance because it protects the functioning of government at the highest level and ensures that constitutional authority is not influenced by violence.
Ingredients of Section 151 BNS
- Purpose of inducing or compelling the President of India or a State Governor to use or hold back any lawful power
- Assault, wrongful restraint or overawing of the President or Governor by criminal force or the show of it, or an attempt to do so
Punishment Under Section 151 BNS
Imprisonment of either description for up to seven years.
The offender is also liable to fine.
Assaulting or restraining the President or a Governor to compel the exercise of a lawful power carries imprisonment of up to seven years, and liability to fine.
Example of Section 151 BNS
When Section 151 BNS Does Not Apply
- The person assaulted or restrained was not the President of India or the Governor of a State
- The accused had no intention of inducing or compelling the exercise of a lawful power, and only the ordinary offence of assault or wrongful restraint applies
- The accused only petitioned or protested, with no assault, restraint or show of criminal force
Section 151 BNS in the IPC (Previous Law)
Section 151 BNS replaces Section 124 IPC from the old criminal code.
Section 124 IPC is now Section 151 BNS, with the same words and the same punishment. Only the heading differs, as Section 151 BNS drops the article before exercise of any lawful power.
View IPC Section 124 →FAQs on Section 151 BNS
Who can be prosecuted under Section 151 BNS?▼
Any person who assaults, wrongfully restrains, or overawes by criminal force the President of India or the Governor of a State with the required intent can be prosecuted. The key point is not just the act, but the purpose behind it.
Does every assault on a Governor or President fall under Section 151 BNS?▼
No. The prosecution must prove that the force was used to compel or restrain the lawful exercise of official power. If the incident is only a personal altercation, this section may not apply.
Is Section 151 BNS bailable?▼
No, it is generally treated as a non-bailable offence. Police can investigate it without a warrant because it is also cognizable.
What replaced Section 124 IPC in the BNS?▼
This provision has been carried forward into Section 151 BNS of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, with the same ingredients and punishment. The earlier law remains relevant only for older cases committed before the BNS took effect.
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·