234. Whoever issues or signs any certificate required by law to be given or signed, or relating to any fact of which such certificate is by law admissible in evidence, knowing or believing that such certificate is false in any material point, shall be punished in the same manner as if he gave false evidence.
IPC Section 197 in BNS: Section 234
Issuing or signing false certificate
Section 197 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Issuing or signing false certificate) corresponds to Section 234 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in force from 1 July 2024. Under the BNSS First Schedule, BNS 234 is non-cognizable, bailable, triable by Court by which offence of giving false evidence is triable; punishment: The same as for giving false evidence.
Bail, cognizability and punishment
| Section | Offence | Punishment | Cognizable | Bailable | Triable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 234 | Knowingly issuing or signing a false certificate relating to any fact of which such certificate is by law admissible in evidence. | The same as for giving false evidence. | Non-cognizable | Bailable | Court by which offence of giving false evidence is triable |
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 234
Full BNS Section 234 and every IPC section it replaced →
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