BNS §255

Public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture

Substantively sameConfidence: mediumStatus: editor verified
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.

Jump to section

Comparison

Old law
IPC §217
Public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture

217. Public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture.—Whoever, being a public servant, knowingly disobeys any direction of the 1. Illustrations rep. by Act 10 of 1882, s. 2 and the First Sch. 2. Subs. by Act 26 of 1955, s. 117 and the Sch., for “transportation for life” (w.e.f. 1-1-1956). 3. Ins. by Act 10 of 1886, s. 23. 4. The words “British India” have successively been subs. by the A. O. 1948, the A. O. 1950 and Act 3 of 1951, s. 3 and the Sch., to read as above. 5. The words “or under the Fugitive Offenders Act, 1881,” omitted by Act 3 of 1951, s. 3 and the Sch. 6. Ins. by Act 3 of 1894, s. 8. law as to the way in which he is to conduct himself as such public servant, intending thereby to save, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby save, any person from legal punishment, or subject him to a less punishment than that to which he is liable, or with intent to save, or knowing that he is likely thereby to save, any property from forfeiture or any charge to which it is liable by law, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

New law
BNS §255
Public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture

Whoever, being a public servant, knowingly disobeys any direction of the law as to the way in which he is to conduct himself as such public servant, intending thereby to save, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby save, any person from legal punishment, or subject him to a less punishment than that to which he is liable, or with intent to save, or knowing that he is likely thereby to save, any property from forfeiture or any charge to which it is liable by law, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

What changedAI-inferred

IPC 217 (public servant knowingly disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from punishment / less punishment / save property from forfeiture; imprisonment up to 2 years) is preserved character-identically as BNS 255.

Old position

IPC 217 is concerned with Public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture. Public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture

New position

BNS 255 preserves the framework with drafting modernisations as required by the new code. Topic: Public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture. Whoever, being a public servant, knowingly disobeys any direction of the law as to the way in which he is to conduct himself as such public servant, intending thereby to save, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby save, any

IPC 217 (public servant knowingly disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from punishment / less punishment / save property from forfeiture; imprisonment up to 2 years) is preserved character-identically as BNS 255.

Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)

IPC 217 (public servant knowingly disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from punishment / less punishment / save property from forfeiture; imprisonment up to 2 years) is preserved character-identically as BNS 255.

Transitional note (repeal & savings)

For matters initiated before 1 July 2024, IPC 217 continues to apply. For matters from that date forward, BNS 255 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 255 (Public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture). The relationship is classified as substantively_same — see the change-note above for the textual delta.

Sources

Cite this page

Newlaws.in, IPC §217 → BNS §255 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-06-14, https://newlaws.in/bns/255.

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.