IPC §173 → BNS §207
Preventing service of summons or other proceeding, or preventing publication thereof
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Comparison
173. Preventing service of summons or other proceeding, or preventing publication thereof.— Whoever in any manner intentionally prevents the serving on himself, or on any other person, of any summons, notice or order proceeding from any public servant legally competent, as such public servant, to issue such summons, notice or order, or intentionally prevents the lawful affixing to any place of any such summons, notice or order, or intentionally removes any such summons, notice or order from any place to which it is lawfully affixed, or intentionally prevents the lawful making of any proclamation, under the authority of any public servant legally competent, as such public servant, to direct such proclamation to be made, 1. The proviso ins. by Act 24 of 2003, s. 5 (w.e.f. 22-9-2003). 2. Subs. by Act 21 of 2000, s. 91 and the First Sch., for “produce a document in a Court of Justice” (w.e.f. 17-10-2000). shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both; or, if the summons, notice, order or proclamation is to attend in person or by agent, or 1[to produce a document or electronic record in a Court of Justice] with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
Whoever in any manner intentionally prevents the serving on himself, or on any other person, of any summons, notice or order proceeding from any public servant legally competent, as such public servant, to issue such summons, notice or order, or intentionally prevents the lawful affixing to any place of any such summons, notice or order or intentionally removes any such summons, notice or order from any place to which it is lawfully affixed or intentionally prevents the lawful making of any proclamation, under the authority of any public servant legally competent, as such public servant, to direct such proclamation to be made,—
(a) shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both;
(b) where the summons, notice, order or proclamation is to attend in person or by agent, or to produce a document or electronic record in a Court, with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees, or with both.
What changedAI-inferred
IPC 173 (intentionally preventing service of summons, notice, order, or proclamation; intentionally removing affixed summons; intentionally preventing lawful proclamation) is preserved as BNS 207 with the same fine-cap modernisation as IPC 172 → BNS 206 (10x increases) and the 'or electronic record' addition in sub-clause (b).
Old position
IPC 173 is concerned with Preventing service of summons or other proceeding, or preventing publication thereof. Preventing service of summons or other proceeding, or preventing publication thereof
New position
BNS 207 modifies the framework. Topic: Preventing service of summons or other proceeding, or preventing publication thereof. Whoever in any manner intentionally prevents the serving on himself, or on any other person, of any summons, notice or order proceeding from any public servant legally competent, as such public servant, to issue such summons, notice or
IPC 173 (intentionally preventing service of summons, notice, order, or proclamation; intentionally removing affixed summons; intentionally preventing lawful proclamation) is preserved as BNS 207 with the same fine-cap modernisation as IPC 172 → BNS 206 (10x increases) and the 'or electronic...
Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)
BNS-207 reproduces the operative content of IPC-173 on preventing service of summons but reorganises the punishment-or-condition layer into a structured (a)/(b) sub-clause format. Punishment-list reorganised into structured sub-clauses. Punishment levels are preserved.
Transitional note (repeal & savings)
For matters initiated before 1 July 2024, IPC 173 continues to apply. For matters from that date forward, BNS 207 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 207 (Preventing service of summons or other proceeding, or preventing publication thereof). The relationship is classified as modified — 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 §173 → BNS §207 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-06-14, https://newlaws.in/ipc/173.
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.