Section 187 IPC: Omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give assistance

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 187 IPC at a Glance

Section 187 IPC deals with omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give assistance. It is bailable and non-cognizable, triable by any Magistrate; from 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 222 BNS.

Punishment

Simple imprisonment for up to one month. Where the assistance is demanded by a public servant legally competent to make the demand for one of the listed purposes, simple imprisonment for up to six months.

Bailable ⓘNon-Cognizable ⓘNon-Compoundable ⓘ🏛️ Any Magistrate ⓘ

BNS Equivalent

Section 222 →

Section 187 IPC Bare Act Text

187. Omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give assistance
Whoever, being bound by law to render or furnish assistance to any public servant in the execution of his public duty, intentionally omits to give such assistance, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both; and if such assistance be demanded of him by a public servant legally competent to make such demand for the purposes of executing any process lawfully issued by a Court of Justice, or of preventing the commission of an offence, or suppressing a riot, or affray, or of apprehending a person charged with or guilty of an offence, or of having escaped from lawful custody, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.

Source: Section 187, Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 187 IPC in Simple Words

Section 187 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) punishes a person who is bound by law to render or furnish assistance to a public servant in the execution of his public duty and intentionally omits to give it. The ordinary punishment is simple imprisonment for up to one month, or fine of up to two hundred rupees, or both.

The higher punishment is simple imprisonment for up to six months, or fine of up to five hundred rupees, or both. It applies where the assistance is demanded by a public servant legally competent to demand it for executing process lawfully issued by a Court of Justice, preventing an offence, suppressing a riot or affray, or apprehending a person charged with or guilty of an offence or who has escaped from lawful custody.

The offence is non-cognizable and bailable, and it is triable by any Magistrate.

Ingredients of Section 187 IPC

The accused was bound by law to render or furnish assistance to a public servant
The assistance was for the public servant in the execution of his public duty
The accused intentionally omitted to give that assistance
For the higher punishment, the assistance was demanded by a public servant legally competent to make the demand
For the higher punishment, the demand was for executing process lawfully issued by a Court of Justice, preventing an offence, suppressing a riot or affray, or apprehending a person charged with or guilty of an offence or who has escaped from lawful custody

Punishment Under Section 187 IPC

Imprisonment

Fine

Fine of up to two hundred rupees in the ordinary case and up to five hundred rupees where the higher punishment applies. The offender may be punished with fine alone or with both imprisonment and fine.

Bailable ⓘNon-Cognizable ⓘNon-Compoundable ⓘ🏛️ Any Magistrate ⓘ

Intentionally omitting to assist a public servant when bound by law carries simple imprisonment for up to one month, or fine of up to two hundred rupees, or both. The higher limits are six months and five hundred rupees.

Example of Section 187 IPC

In 2015 in Varanasi, Station House Officer Arvind, a public servant executing his public duty, pursued a convict who had escaped from lawful custody. Under procedural law, Sohan, a local ferryman present at the riverbank, was bound by law to render assistance to the officer in apprehending the escaped convict. Arvind, who was legally competent to make such a demand, demanded Sohan's assistance to apprehend the fugitive. Sohan intentionally omitted to give that assistance and walked away. Sohan is punishable under Section 187 IPC.

When Section 187 IPC Does Not Apply

Section 187 IPC does not apply when the person asked to help is under no legal obligation to render or furnish assistance to the public servant.
Section 187 IPC does not apply when the public servant seeks help for a personal matter rather than in the execution of his public duty.
Section 187 IPC does not apply when the failure to assist is due to physical inability or lack of awareness rather than an intentional omission.
The higher punishment under Section 187 IPC does not apply when the public servant demanding assistance is not legally competent to make that demand or seeks help for a purpose not listed in the second clause.

Section 187 IPC in the BNS

Section 187 IPC is now covered under Section 222 BNS.

Section 187 IPC is now Section 222 BNS, with the same title and the same offence. Section 222 BNS sets out the punishment in two clauses, one for the ordinary case and one for the case where the assistance is demanded. It raises the fine from two hundred rupees to two thousand five hundred rupees in the first clause and from five hundred rupees to five thousand rupees in the second. The imprisonment terms of one month and six months are unchanged. The second clause also refers to process issued by a Court where the IPC refers to a Court of Justice.

View detailed comparison (IPC 187 vs BNS 222) →

FAQs on Section 187 IPC

What does Section 187 IPC provide?▼

It punishes a person who is bound by law to render or furnish assistance to a public servant in the execution of his public duty and intentionally omits to give it.

What is the punishment under Section 187 IPC?▼

Simple imprisonment for up to one month, or fine of up to two hundred rupees, or both. Where the assistance is demanded by a public servant legally competent to make the demand for one of the listed purposes, simple imprisonment for up to six months, or fine of up to five hundred rupees, or both.

When does the higher punishment under Section 187 IPC apply?▼

Where a public servant legally competent to make the demand asks for the assistance for executing process lawfully issued by a Court of Justice, preventing an offence, suppressing a riot or affray, or apprehending a person charged with or guilty of an offence or who has escaped from lawful custody.

How does Section 187 IPC differ from Section 188 IPC?▼

Section 187 IPC punishes omission to assist a public servant when bound by law to give assistance. Section 188 IPC punishes disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant.

Is an offence under Section 187 IPC cognizable and bailable?▼

It is non-cognizable and bailable.

Which court tries an offence under Section 187 IPC?▼

Any Magistrate.

Can an offence under Section 187 IPC be compounded?▼

No. It is not listed in Section 320 CrPC.

Where is Section 187 IPC in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?▼

In Section 222 BNS.

What is the fine under Section 222 BNS?▼

Up to two thousand five hundred rupees in the ordinary case and up to five thousand rupees where the assistance is demanded for one of the listed purposes.

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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 ·