Section 120 CrPC: Contents of bond

Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 120 CrPC at a Glance

Section 120 CrPC deals with contents of bond. From 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 139 BNSS.

Now BNSS

What Section 120 CrPC Says

120. Contents of bond
The 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.

Source: Section 120, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973

Section 120 CrPC in Simple Words

Section 120 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 deals with the contents of a bond. A 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 is one to be of good behaviour, committing any offence punishable with imprisonment is a breach of the bond. So is attempting to commit, or abetting, such an offence.

It does not matter where the offence is committed.

When Section 120 CrPC Applies

Under Section 120 CrPC the 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 120 CrPC, in the case of a 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.
Under Section 120 CrPC such an offence is a breach of the bond wherever it may be committed.

Example of Section 120 CrPC

Ramesh executes a bond that binds Ramesh to be of good behaviour. Under Section 120 CrPC, in that case the commission or attempt to commit, or the abetment of, any offence punishable with imprisonment is a breach of the bond. Ramesh later abets Suresh in committing an offence punishable with imprisonment in another State. Under Section 120 CrPC the abetment is a breach of the bond, wherever it may be committed.

When Section 120 CrPC Does Not Apply

Section 120 CrPC speaks of the contents of a 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 121 CrPC.
Section 120 CrPC speaks of the contents of a bond. It does not deal with imprisonment in default of security, which is the subject of Section 122 CrPC.

Section 120 CrPC Under BNSS 139: What Changed

Section 120 CrPC is now covered under Section 139 BNSS.

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 detailed comparison (CrPC 120 vs BNSS 139) →

FAQs on Section 120 CrPC

What does the bond bind the person to do under Section 120 CrPC?▼

Under Section 120 CrPC the 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 under Section 120 CrPC?▼

Under Section 120 CrPC, in the case of a 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.

Does the place of the offence matter under Section 120 CrPC?▼

Under Section 120 CrPC the commission or attempt to commit, or the abetment of, any offence punishable with imprisonment is a breach of the bond wherever it may be committed.

Where is Section 120 CrPC found in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023?▼

Section 120 CrPC has no sub-sections, and maps as a whole to Section 139 BNSS from 1 July 2024.

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

Sources: Bare Act Text, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 · Last updated: 26 Oct 2026 ·