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Thursday, 12 November 2026 Judgments, law jobs and study notes, written by a practising advocate
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter IX: Security For Keeping The Peace And For Good Behaviour

Section 141 BNSS: Imprisonment in default of security

Corresponding CrPC
Section 122 CrPC

Bare Act text

(1) (a) If any person ordered to give security under section 125 or section 136 does not give such security on or before the date on which the period for which such security is to be given commences, he shall, except in the case next hereinafter mentioned, be committed to prison, or, if he is already in prison, be detained in prison until such period expires or until within such period he gives the security to the Court or Magistrate who made the order requiring it;

(b) if any person after having executed a bond or bail bond for keeping the peace in pursuance of an order of a Magistrate under section 136, is proved, to the satisfaction of such Magistrate or his successorin-office, to have committed breach of the bond or bail bond, such Magistrate or successor-in-office may, after recording the grounds of such proof, order that the person be arrested and detained in prison until the expiry of the period of the bond or bail bond and such order shall be without prejudice to any other punishment or forfeiture to which the said person may be liable in accordance with law.

(2) When such person has been ordered by a Magistrate to give security for a period exceeding one year, such Magistrate shall, if such person does not give such security as aforesaid, issue a warrant directing him to be detained in prison pending the orders of the Sessions Judge and the proceedings shall be laid, as soon as conveniently may be, before such Court.

(3) Such Court, after examining such proceedings and requiring from the Magistrate any further information or evidence which it thinks necessary, and after giving the concerned person a reasonable opportunity of being heard, may pass such order on the case as it thinks fit:

Provided that the period (if any) for which any person is imprisoned for failure to give security shall not exceed three years.

(4) If security has been required in the course of the same proceeding from two or more persons in respect of any one of whom the proceedings are referred to the Sessions Judge under sub-section (2) such reference shall also include the case of any other of such persons who has been ordered to give security, and the provisions of sub-sections (2) and (3) shall, in that event, apply to the case of such other person also, except that the period (if any) for which he may be imprisoned, shall not exceed the period for which he was ordered to give security.

(5) A Sessions Judge may in his discretion transfer any proceedings laid before him under sub-section (2) or sub-section (4) to an Additional Sessions Judge and upon such transfer, such Additional Sessions Judge may exercise the powers of a Sessions Judge under this section in respect of such proceedings.

(6) If the security is tendered to the officer in charge of the jail, he shall forthwith refer the matter to the Court or Magistrate who made the order, and shall await the orders of such Court or Magistrate.

(7) Imprisonment for failure to give security for keeping the peace shall be simple.

(8) Imprisonment for failure to give security for good behaviour shall, where the proceedings have been taken under section 127, be simple, and, where the proceedings have been taken under section 128 or section 129, be rigorous or simple as the Court or Magistrate in each case directs.

Text as enacted in the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Act No. 46 of 2023), in force from 1 July 2024. Source: India Code, Government of India.

In simple words

A person ordered to give security under section 125 or 136 who does not do so by the date the period commences is committed to prison, or detained if already imprisoned, until the period expires or he gives security. If a person who executed a peace bond under section 136 is proved to have breached it, the Magistrate may, after recording grounds, order him arrested and detained until the bond’s period expires, without prejudice to other punishment or forfeiture. Where security is ordered for more than one year and is not given, the Magistrate issues a warrant for detention pending the Sessions Judge’s orders and lays the proceedings before that Court, which hears the person and may pass such order as it thinks fit, but imprisonment for failure to give security cannot exceed three years. Reference extends to co-persons, with their imprisonment capped at their security period, and the Sessions Judge may transfer matters to an Additional Sessions Judge. Security tendered to the jail officer is referred to the ordering Court. Imprisonment for failing to give peace security is simple; for good behaviour it is simple under section 127 and rigorous or simple as directed under sections 128 or 129.

Chapter IX: Security For Keeping The Peace And For Good Behaviour

  1. 125 Security for keeping peace on conviction
  2. 126 Security for keeping peace in other cases
  3. 127 Security for good behaviour from persons disseminating certain matters
  4. 128 Security for good behaviour from suspected persons
  5. 129 Security for good behaviour from habitual offenders
  6. 130 Order to be made
  7. 131 Procedure in respect of person present in Court
  8. 132 Summons or warrant in case of person not so present
  9. 133 Copy of order to accompany summons or warrant
  10. 134 Power to dispense with personal attendance
  11. 135 Inquiry as to truth of information
  12. 136 Order to give security
  13. 137 Discharge of person informed against
  14. 138 Commencement of period for which security is required
  15. 139 Contents of bond
  16. 140 Power to reject sureties
  17. 141 Imprisonment in default of security
  18. 142 Power to release persons imprisoned for failing to give security
  19. 143 Security for unexpired period of bond