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Wednesday, 11 November 2026 Judgments, law jobs and study notes, written by a practising advocate
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter VII: Of Offences Against The State

Section 156 BNS: Public servant voluntarily allowing prisoner of State or war to escape

Corresponding IPC
Section 128 IPC
Punishment
Imprisonment for life, or up to 10 years, and fine

Classification of offence

SectionCognizable?Bailable?Triable by
156CognizableNon-bailableCourt of Session

As per the First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

Bare Act text

Whoever, being a public servant and having the custody of any State prisoner or prisoner of war, voluntarily allows such prisoner to escape from any place in which such prisoner is confined, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Text as enacted in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act No. 45 of 2023), in force from 1 July 2024. Source: India Code, Government of India.

In simple words

Punishes a public servant having custody of a State prisoner or prisoner of war who voluntarily lets that prisoner escape.

Chapter VII: Of Offences Against The State

  1. 147 Waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against Government of
  2. 148 Conspiracy to commit offences punishable by section 147
  3. 149 Collecting arms, etc., with intention of waging war against Government of India
  4. 150 Concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war
  5. 151 Assaulting President, Governor, etc., with intent to compel or restrain exercise of any lawful power
  6. 152 Act endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India
  7. 153 Waging war against Government of any foreign State at peace with Government of India
  8. 154 Committing depredation on territories of foreign State at peace with Government of India
  9. 155 Receiving property taken by war or depredation mentioned in sections 153 and 154
  10. 156 Public servant voluntarily allowing prisoner of State or war to escape
  11. 157 Public servant negligently suffering such prisoner to escape
  12. 158 Aiding escape of, rescuing or harbouring such prisoner
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