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Thursday, 12 November 2026 Judgments, law jobs and study notes, written by a practising advocate
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter XI: Of Offences Against The Public Tranquillity

Section 193 BNS: Liability of owner, occupier, etc., of land on which an unlawful assembly or riot takes place

Corresponding IPC
Section 154, 155, 156 IPC
Punishment
Fine up to Rs 1,000 (sub-section (1)); fine (sub-sections (2) and (3))
Note
Merges liability of landowner/occupier, beneficiary and agent into one section.

Classification of offence

SectionCognizable?Bailable?Triable by
193(1)Non-cognizableBailableAny Magistrate
193(2)Non-cognizableBailableAny Magistrate
193(3)Non-cognizableBailableAny Magistrate

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

Bare Act text

(1) Whenever any unlawful assembly or riot takes place, the owner or occupier of the land upon which such unlawful assembly is held, or such riot is committed, and any person having or claiming an interest in such land, shall be punishable with fine not exceeding one thousand rupees, if he or his agent or manager, knowing that such offence is being or has been committed, or having reason to believe it is likely to be committed, do not give the earliest notice thereof in his or their power to the officer in charge at the nearest police station, and do not, in the case of his or their having reason to believe that it was about to be committed, use all lawful means in his or their power to prevent it and, in the event of its taking place, do not use all lawful means in his or their power to disperse or suppress the riot or unlawful assembly.

(2) Whenever a riot is committed for the benefit or on behalf of any person who is the owner or occupier of any land respecting which such riot takes place or who claims any interest in such land, or in the subject of any dispute which gave rise to the riot, or who has accepted or derived any benefit therefrom, such person shall be punishable with fine, if he or his agent or manager, having reason to believe that such riot was likely to be committed or that the unlawful assembly by which such riot was committed was likely to be held, shall not respectively use all lawful means in his or their power to prevent such assembly or riot from taking place, and for suppressing and dispersing the same.

(3) Whenever a riot is committed for the benefit or on behalf of any person who is the owner or occupier of any land respecting which such riot takes place, or who claims any interest in such land, or in the subject of any dispute which gave rise to the riot, or who has accepted or derived any benefit therefrom, the agent or manager of such person shall be punishable with fine, if such agent or manager, having reason to believe that such riot was likely to be committed, or that the unlawful assembly by which such riot was committed was likely to be held, shall not use all lawful means in his power to prevent such riot or assembly from taking place and for suppressing and dispersing the same.

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

Whenever an unlawful assembly or riot takes place, the owner or occupier of the land, and anyone claiming an interest in it, is punishable with fine up to one thousand rupees if he or his agent or manager, knowing the offence is occurring or has occurred or having reason to believe it likely, fails to give the earliest notice to the officer in charge of the nearest police station, and, where he had reason to believe it was about to happen, fails to use all lawful means to prevent it or, if it occurs, to disperse or suppress it. Where a riot is committed for the benefit or on behalf of a landowner or occupier or a person claiming an interest in the land or the subject of the dispute, or who has accepted benefit from it, that person is punishable with fine if he or his agent or manager, having reason to believe it likely, does not use all lawful means to prevent it and to suppress and disperse it. The agent or manager of such a person is likewise punishable with fine.

Chapter XI: Of Offences Against The Public Tranquillity

  1. 189 Unlawful assembly
  2. 190 Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object
  3. 191 Rioting
  4. 192 Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot-if rioting be committed; if not committed
  5. 193 Liability of owner, occupier, etc., of land on which an unlawful assembly or riot takes place
  6. 194 Affray
  7. 195 Assaulting or obstructing public servant when suppressing riot, etc
  8. 196 Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony
  9. 197 Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration