Section 29 IPC: “Document”

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 29 IPC at a Glance

Section 29 IPC defines the term “Document”. From 1 July 2024 it is replaced by Section 2(8) BNS.

Punishment

None. Section 29 IPC creates no offence.

BNS Equivalent

Section 29 IPC Bare Act Text

29. “Document”
The word “document” denotes any matter expressed or described upon any substance by means of letters, figures or marks, or by more than one of those means, intended to be used, or which may be used, as evidence of that matter.
Explanation 1.—It is immaterial by what means or upon what substance the letters, figures or marks are formed, or whether the evidence is intended for, or may be used in, a Court of Justice, or not.
Illustrations
A writing expressing the terms of a contract, which may be used as evidence of the contract, is a document.
A cheque upon a banker is a document.
A power-of-attorney is a document.
A map or plan which is intended to be used or which may be used as evidence, is a document.
A writing containing directions or instructions is a document.
Explanation 2.—Whatever is expressed by means of letters, figures or marks as explained by mercantile or other usage, shall be deemed to be expressed by such letters, figures or marks within the meaning of this section, although the same may not be actually expressed.
Illustration
A writes his name on the back of a bill of exchange payable to his order. The meaning of the endorsement, as explained by mercantile usage, is that the bill is to be paid to the holder. The endorsement is a document, and must be construed in the same manner as if the words “pay to the holder” or words to that effect had been written over the signature.

Source: Section 29, Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 29 IPC in Simple Words

Section 29 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) defines the word document. A document is any matter expressed or described upon any substance by means of letters, figures or marks, or by more than one of those means, intended to be used, or which may be used, as evidence of that matter.

Explanation 1 says it does not matter by what means or upon what substance the letters, figures or marks are formed, or whether the evidence is intended for, or may be used in, a Court of Justice. Explanation 2 treats whatever letters, figures or marks express by mercantile or other usage as expressed by them.

The section creates no offence and sets no punishment; it fixes the meaning of a word used in other sections.

Ingredients of Section 29 IPC

Matter expressed or described upon a substance
Expressed by letters, figures or marks, or by more than one of those means
Intended to be used, or which may be used, as evidence of that matter
Under Explanation 1, the means and the substance do not matter, and neither does whether the evidence is meant for a Court of Justice
Under Explanation 2, what the letters, figures or marks express by mercantile or other usage is treated as expressed by them

Punishment Under Section 29 IPC

Imprisonment

None. Section 29 IPC creates no offence.

Fine

None.

Section 29 IPC is a definition. It has no entry in the First Schedule to the CrPC.

Example of Section 29 IPC

In 2018 in Kochi, Harish carved letters, figures and tally marks onto a wooden plank to record the weight of spices delivered to Nirmala, intending the carved plank to be used as evidence of that delivery. Under Explanation 1, it was immaterial that the letters, figures and marks were carved on wood or whether the plank was intended for a Court of Justice. Harish also wrote his initials and abbreviated trade symbols on a delivery voucher, which by mercantile usage expressed full receipt of payment under Explanation 2. Both the plank and the voucher were documents within Section 29 IPC.

When Section 29 IPC Does Not Apply

Section 29 IPC does not apply to a purely verbal agreement where no matter is expressed or described upon any substance.
Section 29 IPC does not apply to decorative patterns or doodles on a wall that are neither intended to be used nor capable of being used as evidence of any matter.
Section 29 IPC does not apply to an unmarked stone or blank piece of metal that bears no letters, figures, or marks expressing or describing any matter.
Section 29 IPC does not apply to a fleeting nod or hand gesture because nothing is recorded upon a substance by means of letters, figures, or marks.

Section 29 IPC in the BNS

Section 29 IPC is now covered under Section 2(8) BNS.

Section 2(8) BNS keeps the definition and makes three changes. It says a document includes electronic and digital record. Explanation 1 now ends with a Court or not, in place of a Court of Justice, or not. The endorsement illustration says shall be construed, where the IPC said must be construed. The five illustrations are kept and lettered a to e. It is now a clause of the definitions section, headed document, in place of a section of its own.

View detailed comparison (IPC 29 vs BNS 2(8)) →

FAQs on Section 29 IPC

What does Section 29 IPC define?▼

The word document. It denotes any matter expressed or described upon any substance by means of letters, figures or marks, or by more than one of those means, intended to be used, or which may be used, as evidence of that matter.

Under Section 29 IPC, does it matter what the document is written on, or whether it is for a court?▼

No. Explanation 1 says it is immaterial by what means or upon what substance the letters, figures or marks are formed, and whether the evidence is intended for, or may be used in, a Court of Justice, or not.

Under Section 29 IPC, what are the elements of the definition?▼

There must be matter expressed or described upon a substance, by letters, figures or marks or more than one of them, and it must be intended to be used, or be capable of being used, as evidence of that matter. The section gives five illustrations: a contract, a cheque upon a banker, a power-of-attorney, a map or plan, and a writing containing directions or instructions.

Under Section 29 IPC, what does Explanation 2 add about mercantile usage?▼

Whatever is expressed by letters, figures or marks as explained by mercantile or other usage is deemed to be expressed by them, though not actually expressed. The illustration is a name written on the back of a bill of exchange, which by mercantile usage means the bill is to be paid to the holder. The endorsement is a document.

Does Section 29 IPC create an offence?▼

No. It fixes the meaning of the word and sets no punishment. The punishment comes from the section charged, such as Section 465 IPC on forgery, which turns on a document.

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