Section 139 BNSS: Contents of bond

Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 139 BNSS at a Glance

Section 139 BNSS deals with contents of bond. It replaced Section 120 CrPC on 1 July 2024.

Was CrPC

Section 120 →

Section 139 BNSS Bare Act Text

139. Contents of bond

The bond or bail bond to be executed by any such person shall bind him to keep the peace or to be of good behaviour, as the case may be, and in the latter case the commission or attempt to commit, or the abetment of, any offence punishable with imprisonment, wherever it may be committed, is a breach of the bond or bail bond.

Source: Section 139, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Section 139 BNSS in Simple Words

Section 139 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 deals with the contents of a bond or bail bond. A bond or bail bond executed by any such person shall bind that person to keep the peace or to be of good behaviour, as the case may be.

If the bond or bail bond is one to be of good behaviour, committing any offence punishable with imprisonment is a breach of the bond or bail bond. So is attempting to commit, or abetting, such an offence.

It does not matter where the offence is committed.

When Section 139 BNSS Applies

  • Under Section 139 BNSS the bond or bail bond to be executed by any such person shall bind him to keep the peace or to be of good behaviour, as the case may be.
  • Under Section 139 BNSS, in the case of a bond or bail bond to be of good behaviour, the commission or attempt to commit, or the abetment of, any offence punishable with imprisonment is a breach of the bond or bail bond.
  • Under Section 139 BNSS such an offence is a breach of the bond or bail bond wherever it may be committed.

Example of Section 139 BNSS

Kavita executes a bond or bail bond that binds Kavita to be of good behaviour. Under Section 139 BNSS, in that case the commission or attempt to commit, or the abetment of, any offence punishable with imprisonment is a breach of the bond or bail bond. Kavita later abets Vikram in committing an offence punishable with imprisonment in another State. Under Section 139 BNSS the abetment is a breach of the bond or bail bond, wherever it may be committed.

When Section 139 BNSS Does Not Apply

  • Section 139 BNSS speaks of the contents of a bond or bail bond to keep the peace or to be of good behaviour. It does not deal with the power to reject sureties, which is the subject of Section 140 BNSS.
  • Section 139 BNSS speaks of the contents of a bond or bail bond. It does not deal with imprisonment in default of security, which is the subject of Section 141 BNSS.

Section 139 BNSS in the CrPC (Previous Law)

Section 139 BNSS replaces Section 120 CrPC from the old criminal code.

Section 120 CrPC is found in Section 139 BNSS from 1 July 2024, with the same heading. Section 139 BNSS reads the bond or bail bond, and a breach of the bond or bail bond, where Section 120 CrPC read the bond, and a breach of the bond, a change of form. The rest of the text is the same.

View CrPC Section 120 →

FAQs on Section 139 BNSS

What does the bond or bail bond bind the person to do under Section 139 BNSS?▼

Under Section 139 BNSS the bond or bail bond to be executed by any such person shall bind him to keep the peace or to be of good behaviour, as the case may be.

What is a breach of the bond or bail bond under Section 139 BNSS?▼

Under Section 139 BNSS, in the case of a bond or bail bond to be of good behaviour, the commission or attempt to commit, or the abetment of, any offence punishable with imprisonment is a breach of the bond or bail bond.

Does the place of the offence matter under Section 139 BNSS?▼

Under Section 139 BNSS the commission or attempt to commit, or the abetment of, any offence punishable with imprisonment is a breach of the bond or bail bond wherever it may be committed.

What changed from Section 120 CrPC to Section 139 BNSS from 1 July 2024?▼

Section 139 BNSS has the same heading as Section 120 CrPC. Section 139 BNSS reads the bond or bail bond, and a breach of the bond or bail bond, where Section 120 CrPC read the bond, and a breach of the bond. This is a change of form: Section 2(1)(e) BNSS defines a bond as a personal bond or undertaking for release without surety and Section 2(1)(d) BNSS defines a bail bond as an undertaking for release with surety. The rest of the text is the same.

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Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 26 Oct 2026 ·