198. 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 to cause, or knowing it to be likely that he will by such disobedience, cause injury to any person, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both. Illustration. A, being an officer directed by law to take property in execution, in order to satisfy a decree pronounced in Z’s favour by a Court, knowingly disobeys that direction of law, with the knowledge that he is likely thereby to cause injury to Z. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
IPC Section 166 in BNS: Section 198
Public servant disobeying law, with intent to cause injury to any person
Section 166 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Public servant disobeying law, with intent to cause injury to any person) corresponds to Section 198 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in force from 1 July 2024. Under the BNSS First Schedule, BNS 198 is non-cognizable, bailable, triable by Magistrate of the first class; punishment: Simple imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both.
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Bail, cognizability and punishment
| Section | Offence | Punishment | Cognizable | Bailable | Triable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 198 | Public servant disobeying direction of the law with intent to cause injury to any person. | Simple imprisonment for 1 year, or fine, or both. | Non-cognizable | Bailable | Magistrate of the first class |
Source: BNSS, 2023, First Schedule, Part I.
The BNS applies to offences committed on or after 1 July 2024. Offences committed earlier are charged and tried under the IPC.
Text of BNS Section 198
Full BNS Section 198 and every IPC section it replaced →
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