BNS §254

Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits

Substantively sameConfidence: mediumStatus: editor verifiedconsolidation context(precautionary)
View government sourcemha.gov.in(opens the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 PDF on mha.gov.in in a new tab)
Last updated 2026-05-01 · Input coverage: full

Compiled by AI-assisted tools. Text verified against official sources where indicated. Field-level labels (AI-indicated / AI-inferred / Text-verified) apply per edge metadata. Verify current bail/cognizable status against official sources before relying on procedural claims. Last updated: 2026-04-28.

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Comparison

Old law
IPC §216A
Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits

6[216A. Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits.—Whoever, knowing or having reason to believe that any persons are about to commit or have recently committed robbery or dacoity, harbours them or any of them, with the intention of facilitating the commission of such robbery or dacoity, or of screening them or any of them from punishment, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine. Explanation.—For the purposes of this section it is immaterial whether the robbery or dacoity is intended to be committed, or has been committed, within or without 3[India]. Exception.—This provision does not extend to the case in which the harbour is by the husband or wife of the offender.]

New law
BNS §254
Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits

Whoever, knowing or having reason to believe that any persons are about to commit or have recently committed robbery or dacoity, harbours them or any of them, with the intention of facilitating the commission of such robbery or dacoity, or of screening them or any of them from punishment, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

What changedAI-inferred

IPC 216A (penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits; rigorous imprisonment up to 7 years with mandatory fine) is preserved as BNS 254 with the same gender-neutralisation of the Exception (wife → spouse) seen in BNS 249/253.

Old position

IPC 216A is concerned with Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits. 6[216A

New position

BNS 254 modifies the framework. Topic: Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits. Whoever, knowing or having reason to believe that any persons are about to commit or have recently committed robbery or dacoity, harbours them or any of them, with the intention of facilitating the commission of such robbery or dacoity, or

IPC 216A (penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits; rigorous imprisonment up to 7 years with mandatory fine) is preserved as BNS 254 with the same gender-neutralisation of the Exception (wife → spouse) seen in BNS 249/253.

Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)

BNS-254 reproduces IPC-216A's framework on penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits character-identically. Historical-amendment brackets are incorporated as plain text. Punishment levels are preserved.

Transitional note (repeal & savings)

For matters initiated before 1 July 2024, IPC 216A continues to apply. For matters from that date forward, BNS 254 applies. The transition is governed by the repeal-and-savings clause in the new code (BNS 358 / BNSS 531 / BSA 170 as the case may be); pending proceedings under the old code carry forward unaffected.

Frequently asked

BNS 254 (Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits). The relationship is classified as modified — see the change-note above for the textual delta.

Government source

The statutory text above is compiled from the Act as published by the Government of India. The links open the full Act; use the PDF's search to find the section number. The linked government pages offer no link to a single section.

Newlaws.in is an independent site, not a government body. The mappings and notes on this page are its own AI-assisted comparison and are not published or endorsed by any government body.

Sources

Cite this page

Newlaws.in, IPC §216A → BNS §254 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-10-30, https://newlaws.in/bns/254.

Compiled using AI-assisted tools · Source-linked · Last updated 2026-05-01

Not legal advice. Verify against the bare act and consult a qualified advocate for any specific matter.