IPC §139 → BNS §167
Persons subject to certain Acts
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Comparison
139. Persons subject to certain Acts.—No person subject to 2[the Army Act, 3[the Army Act, 1950 (46 of 1950)], the Naval Discipline Act, 4[5*** 6[the Indian Navy (Discipline) Act, 1934 (34 of 1934)], 7[the Air Force Act or 8[the Air Force Act, 1950 (45 of 1950)]]], is subject to punishment under this Code Code for any of the offences defined in this Chapter.
No person subject to the Air Force Act, 1950, the Army Act, 1950 and the Navy Act, 1957, or shall be subject to punishment under this Sanhita for any of the offences defined in this Chapter.
What changedAI-inferred
IPC 139 and BNS 167 both carve out service personnel governed by their respective service-discipline Acts from punishment under the general criminal code for offences defined in this Chapter. IPC 139 referenced the Army Act, the Naval Discipline Act, the Indian Navy (Discipline) Act, 1934, the Indian Air Force Act, 1932, and the Air Force Act. BNS 167 references the post-1947 successor statutes: the Air Force Act, 1950 (45 of 1950), the Army Act, 1950 (46 of 1950), and the Navy Act, 1957 (62 of 1957). The substitution is statute-name maintenance — IPC's pre-Independence service Acts were already repealed and replaced by these three Acts well before BNS, so the BNS text simply records the live statutes. No scope_drift fires: the structural exclusion is the same.
Old position
IPC 139 is concerned with Persons subject to certain Acts. Persons subject to certain Acts
New position
BNS 167 preserves the framework with drafting modernisations as required by the new code. Topic: Persons subject to certain Acts. No person subject to the Air Force Act, 1950, the Army Act, 1950 and the Navy Act, 1957, or shall be subject to punishment under this Sanhita for any of the offences defined in this Chapter
IPC 139 and BNS 167 both carve out service personnel governed by their respective service-discipline Acts from punishment under the general criminal code for offences defined in this Chapter. IPC 139 referenced the Army Act, the Naval Discipline Act, the Indian Navy (Discipline) Act, 1934, the...
Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)
IPC 139 and BNS 167 both carve out service personnel governed by their respective service-discipline Acts from punishment under the general criminal code for offences defined in this Chapter. IPC 139 referenced the Army Act, the Naval Discipline Act, the Indian Navy (Discipline) Act, 1934, the Indian Air Force Act, 1932, and the Air Force Act. BNS 167 references the post-1947 successor statutes: the Air Force Act, 1950 (45 of 1950), the Army Act, 1950 (46 of 1950), and the Navy Act, 1957 (62 of 1957). The substitution is statute-name maintenance — IPC's pre-Independence service Acts were already repealed and replaced by these three Acts well before BNS, so the BNS text simply records the live statutes. No scope_drift fires: the structural exclusion is the same.
Transitional note (repeal & savings)
For matters initiated before 1 July 2024, IPC 139 continues to apply. For matters from that date forward, BNS 167 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 167 (Persons subject to certain Acts). The relationship is classified as substantively_same — see the change-note above for the textual delta.
Sources
- India Code — Indian Penal Code, 1860
- Gazette of India — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Cite this page
Newlaws.in, IPC §139 → BNS §167 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-06-12, https://newlaws.in/ipc/139.
Compiled using AI-assisted tools · Source-linked · Last updated 2026-05-01
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