Section 155 IPC: Liability of person for whose benefit riot is committed
Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 155 IPC at a Glance
Section 155 IPC deals with liability of person for whose benefit riot is committed. It is bailable and non-cognizable, triable by any Magistrate; from 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 193(2) BNS.
None. The section provides for fine only.
Section 155 IPC Bare Act Text
155. Liability of person for whose benefit riot is committed
Whenever a riot is committed for the benefit or on behalf of any person who is the owner or occupier of any land respecting which such riot takes place or who claims any interest in such land, or in the subject of any dispute which gave rise to the riot, or who has accepted or derived any benefit therefrom, such person shall be punishable with fine, if he or his agent or manager, having reason to believe that such riot was likely to be committed or that the unlawful assembly by which such riot was committed was likely to be held, shall not respectively use all lawful means in his or their power to prevent such assembly or riot from taking place, and for suppressing and dispersing the same.
Source: Section 155, Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section 155 IPC in Simple Words
Section 155 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) punishes with fine a person for whose benefit or on whose behalf a riot is committed. The person must be the owner or occupier of land respecting which the riot takes place, or must claim an interest in that land or in the subject of a dispute which gave rise to the riot, or must have accepted or derived a benefit from the riot.
He is liable if he or his agent or manager, having reason to believe that the riot was likely to be committed or that the unlawful assembly was likely to be held, does not use all lawful means in his or their power to prevent it and to suppress and disperse it. The offence is non-cognizable and bailable, and it is triable by any Magistrate.
Ingredients of Section 155 IPC
- A riot was committed
- The riot was committed for the benefit or on behalf of the accused
- The accused is the owner or occupier of land respecting which the riot takes place, or claims an interest in that land or in the subject of a dispute which gave rise to the riot, or has accepted or derived a benefit from the riot
- The accused or his agent or manager had reason to believe that the riot was likely to be committed or that the unlawful assembly by which it was committed was likely to be held
- The accused or his agent or manager did not use all lawful means in his or their power to prevent the assembly or riot from taking place and to suppress and disperse it
Punishment Under Section 155 IPC
None. The section provides for fine only.
Fine. The section names no maximum amount for the fine.
Punishable with fine only. Non-cognizable, bailable and triable by any Magistrate.
Example of Section 155 IPC
When Section 155 IPC Does Not Apply
- Section 155 IPC does not apply when an unlawful assembly gathers without committing the offence of rioting.
- Section 155 IPC does not apply if the riot was not committed for the benefit or on behalf of the accused person.
- Section 155 IPC does not apply where the accused neither owns nor occupies the land, claims no interest in the land or the dispute that caused the riot, and derives no benefit from the riot.
- Section 155 IPC does not apply when neither the beneficiary nor his agent or manager had any reason to believe that the unlawful assembly or riot was likely to occur.
- Section 155 IPC does not apply if the person or his manager used every lawful means within his power to prevent the unlawful assembly or riot and to suppress and disperse it.
Section 155 IPC in the BNS
Section 155 IPC is now covered under Section 193(2) BNS.
Section 155 IPC is now Section 193(2) BNS, with the same words and the same punishment. The BNS makes Sections 154, 155 and 156 IPC the three numbered parts of a single Section 193(2) BNS. Section 193(2) BNS carries one heading for all three, Liability of owner, occupier, etc., of land on which an unlawful assembly or riot takes place, and the part that takes in Section 155 IPC has no heading of its own.
View detailed comparison (IPC 155 vs BNS 193(2)) →FAQs on Section 155 IPC
What does Section 155 IPC provide?▼
It punishes with fine a person for whose benefit or on whose behalf a riot is committed, where the person or his agent or manager had reason to believe that the riot was likely and did not use all lawful means in his or their power to prevent it and to suppress and disperse it.
What is the punishment under Section 155 IPC?▼
Fine. The section provides no imprisonment and names no maximum amount for the fine.
Who is covered by Section 155 IPC?▼
A person for whose benefit or on whose behalf a riot is committed, who is the owner or occupier of land respecting which the riot takes place, or who claims an interest in that land or in the subject of a dispute which gave rise to the riot, or who has accepted or derived a benefit from the riot.
Under Section 155 IPC, what must the person have had reason to believe?▼
That the riot was likely to be committed, or that the unlawful assembly by which the riot was committed was likely to be held.
How does Section 155 IPC differ from Section 154 IPC?▼
Section 154 IPC punishes the owner or occupier of land on which an unlawful assembly is held or a riot is committed, and any person claiming an interest in that land, where he or his agent or manager does not give the earliest notice to the nearest police station or does not use all lawful means to prevent, disperse or suppress it. The fine may extend to one thousand rupees. Section 155 IPC reaches the person for whose benefit or on whose behalf a riot is committed and names no maximum for the fine.
How does Section 155 IPC differ from Section 156 IPC?▼
Section 155 IPC punishes the person for whose benefit or on whose behalf the riot is committed. Section 156 IPC punishes the agent or manager of such a person.
Is an offence under Section 155 IPC cognizable and bailable?▼
It is non-cognizable and bailable.
Which court tries an offence under Section 155 IPC?▼
Any Magistrate.
Can an offence under Section 155 IPC be compounded?▼
No. It is not listed in Section 320 CrPC.
Where is Section 155 IPC in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?▼
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Sources: Bare Act Text, Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Last updated: 17 Oct 2026 ·