Section 124 IPC: Assaulting President, Governor, etc., with intent to compel or restrain the exercise of any lawful power

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 124 IPC at a Glance

Section 124 IPC deals with assaulting President, Governor, etc., with intent to compel or restrain the exercise of any lawful power. It is non-bailable and cognizable, triable by the Court of Session; from 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 151 BNS.

Punishment

Imprisonment of either description for up to seven years.

Non-Bailable ⓘCognizable ⓘNon-Compoundable ⓘ🏛️ Court of Session ⓘ
BNS Equivalent

Section 151 →

Section 124 IPC Bare Act Text

124. 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 124, Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 124 IPC in Simple Words

Section 124 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) punishes a person who assaults or wrongfully restrains, or overawes by criminal force or the show of criminal force, the President of India or the Governor of a State, or attempts to do so, with the intention of inducing or compelling the President or Governor to exercise or refrain from exercising any lawful power.

The punishment is imprisonment of either description for up to seven years, and fine.

The offence is cognizable and non-bailable, and it is tried by a Court of Session.

Ingredients of Section 124 IPC

  • The accused acted with the intention of inducing or compelling the President of India, or the Governor of any State, to exercise or refrain from exercising any lawful power
  • The accused assaulted or wrongfully restrained the President or Governor, or overawed the President or Governor by criminal force or the show of criminal force, or attempted to do so

Punishment Under Section 124 IPC

Imprisonment

Imprisonment of either description for up to seven years.

Fine

The offender is also liable to fine.

Non-Bailable ⓘCognizable ⓘNon-Compoundable ⓘ🏛️ Court of Session ⓘ

Assaulting or restraining the President or a Governor to compel the exercise of a lawful power carries imprisonment of up to seven years, and fine.

Example of Section 124 IPC

In 2017, during an official function in Shimla, Vikram and his associates parked heavy trucks across the exit gates of the venue to wrongfully restrain the Governor of Himachal Pradesh and brandished iron rods in a show of criminal force, intending to compel the Governor to refrain from exercising the lawful power of dissolving the Legislative Assembly. Police cleared the blockade and arrested Vikram at the gate. Because he wrongfully restrained and attempted to overawe the Governor by the show of criminal force with that intention, Vikram is punishable under Section 124 IPC.

When Section 124 IPC Does Not Apply

  • The official who was assaulted or wrongfully restrained was a municipal commissioner, a legislator, or a minister rather than the President of India or the Governor of a State.
  • A person assaulted or restrained the President of India or a Governor out of a personal grievance without intending to induce or compel the exercise or non-exercise of any lawful power.
  • Citizens submitted a written petition or held a peaceful demonstration urging the President of India or a Governor to act, without any assault, wrongful restraint, or criminal force.

Section 124 IPC in the BNS

Section 124 IPC is now covered under Section 151 BNS.

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 detailed comparison (IPC 124 vs BNS 151) →

FAQs on Section 124 IPC

What does Section 124 IPC provide?▼

It punishes assaulting or wrongfully restraining the President of India or the Governor of a State, or overawing either by criminal force or the show of it, with the intention of inducing or compelling the exercise of a lawful power. An attempt is also punished.

What is the punishment under Section 124 IPC?▼

Imprisonment of either description for up to seven years, and the offender is also liable to fine.

Does Section 124 IPC protect a Lieutenant Governor or a Minister?▼

No. By its words it protects only the President of India and the Governor of a State.

Is an offence under Section 124 IPC cognizable?▼

Yes. The First Schedule to the CrPC makes it cognizable.

Is an offence under Section 124 IPC bailable?▼

No. It is non-bailable.

Which court tries an offence under Section 124 IPC?▼

A Court of Session.

Can an offence under Section 124 IPC be compounded?▼

No. It is not listed in Section 320 CrPC.

Where is Section 124 IPC in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?▼

In Section 151 BNS.

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

Sources: Bare Act Text, Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Last updated: 16 Oct 2026 ·