Section 211 BNS: Omission to give notice or information to public servant by person legally bound to give it
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Section 211 BNS at a Glance
Section 211 BNS deals with omission to give notice or information to public servant by person legally bound to give it. It is bailable and non-cognizable, triable by any Magistrate; it replaced Section 176 IPC on 1 July 2024.
Simple imprisonment for up to one month. Where the notice or information respects the commission of an offence, or is required to prevent an offence or to apprehend an offender, simple imprisonment for up to six months. Where it is required by an order under Section 394 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, imprisonment of either description for up to six months.
Section 211 BNS Bare Act Text
211. Omission to give notice or information to public servant by person legally bound to give it
Whoever, being legally bound to give any notice or to furnish information on any subject to any public servant, as such, intentionally omits to give such notice or to furnish such information in the manner and at the time required by law,—
(a) shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both;
(b) where the notice or information required to be given respects the commission of an offence, or is required for the purpose of preventing the commission of an offence, or in order to the apprehension of an offender, with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees, or with both;
(c) where the notice or information required to be given is required by an order passed under section 394 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
Source: Section 211, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Section 211 BNS in Simple Words
Section 211 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) applies when a person is legally bound to give a notice or furnish information on any subject to a public servant, as such, and intentionally omits to give it in the manner and at the time required by law. It does not create a general duty on every citizen to report everything, but enforces specific reporting obligations imposed by law.
The section sets out three levels of punishment. In ordinary cases under clause (a), the punishment is simple imprisonment up to one month, or fine up to five thousand rupees, or both. Under clause (b), if the notice or information relates to the commission of an offence, preventing an offence, or apprehending an offender, the punishment is simple imprisonment up to six months, or fine up to ten thousand rupees, or both. Under clause (c), if the information is required by an order passed under Section 394 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, the punishment is imprisonment of either description up to six months, or fine up to one thousand rupees, or both.
Ingredients of Section 211 BNS
- A legal duty to give a notice or to furnish information to a public servant, as such
- An intentional omission to give it in the manner and at the time required by law
Punishment Under Section 211 BNS
Simple imprisonment for up to one month. Where the notice or information respects the commission of an offence, or is required to prevent an offence or to apprehend an offender, simple imprisonment for up to six months. Where it is required by an order under Section 394 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, imprisonment of either description for up to six months.
The offender may be punished with fine alone or with both imprisonment and fine. The fine may extend to five thousand rupees under clause (a), ten thousand rupees under clause (b), and one thousand rupees under clause (c).
Intentionally omitting to give a required notice or information carries simple imprisonment for up to one month, or fine up to five thousand rupees, or both. It carries simple imprisonment for up to six months, or fine up to ten thousand rupees, or both when relating to an offence, and imprisonment of either description for up to six months, or fine up to one thousand rupees, or both when required by an order under Section 394 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Example of Section 211 BNS
When Section 211 BNS Does Not Apply
- The person was not legally bound to give that notice or to furnish that information
- The notice or information was not to be given to a public servant, as such
- The omission was not intentional
- The notice or information was given in the manner and at the time required by law
- The person did furnish the information and the complaint is about its truth, which falls under Section 212 BNS
Section 211 BNS in the IPC (Previous Law)
Section 211 BNS replaces Section 176 IPC from the old criminal code.
Section 176 IPC is now Section 211 BNS, with the same title and the same terms of imprisonment. The upper limit of the fine in the ordinary case rises from five hundred rupees to five thousand rupees, and in the case of a notice or information respecting an offence from one thousand rupees to ten thousand rupees. The fine in the third case stays at one thousand rupees, and the reference to sub-section one of section 565 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 becomes a reference to section 394 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
View IPC Section 176 →FAQs on Section 211 BNS
What does Section 211 of the BNS punish?▼
Section 211 BNS punishes a person who is legally bound to give a notice or information to a public servant, but intentionally does not give it in the manner and at the time required by law. It applies only when there is a legal duty to give that notice or information.
What has to be proved for an offence under Section 211 BNS?▼
It must be shown that the person was legally bound to give notice or furnish information to a public servant, and that the person intentionally omitted to do so as required by law. The section also says the notice or information must have been required in a particular manner and at a particular time.
Is Section 211 BNS bailable?▼
Yes. This is a bailable offence, which means bail can be claimed as a matter of right. The accused is normally released on furnishing bail, subject to the usual conditions the court or police may impose.
What is the punishment under Section 211 of the BNS?▼
The punishment depends on the kind of information not given. In general, it may extend to one month simple imprisonment, or fine up to five thousand rupees, or both. If the information relates to the commission or prevention of an offence or apprehension of an offender, it may extend to six months simple imprisonment, or fine up to ten thousand rupees, or both. If the information was required by an order under Section 394 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, it may extend to six months imprisonment of either description, or fine up to one thousand rupees, or both.
What should I do if I am accused under Section 211 BNS or want to complain about it?▼
If you are accused, collect the notice, order, or legal provision that supposedly required you to give the information, and check the time and manner fixed by law. If you want to complain, keep copies of the order or legal duty, proof that the person was bound to inform the public servant, and proof of the intentional omission.
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·