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Wednesday, 11 November 2026 Judgments, law jobs and study notes, written by a practising advocate
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter XII: Of Offences By Or Relating To Public Servants

Section 199 BNS: Public servant disobeying direction under law

Corresponding IPC
Section 166A IPC
Punishment
Rigorous imprisonment 6 months to 2 years, and fine
Note
Clause (c) on failure to record FIR for specified offences now refers to BNSS section 173(1) and BNS sections; minimum 6 months is stated.

Classification of offence

SectionCognizable?Bailable?Triable by
199CognizableBailableMagistrate of the first class

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

Bare Act text

Whoever, being a public servant,—

(a) knowingly disobeys any direction of the law which prohibits him from requiring the attendance at any place of any person for the purpose of investigation into an offence or any other matter; or

(b) knowingly disobeys, to the prejudice of any person, any other direction of the law regulating the manner in which he shall conduct such investigation; or

(c) fails to record any information given to him under sub-section (1) of section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 in relation to cognizable offence punishable under section 64, section 65, section 66, section 67, section 68, section 70, section 71, section 74, section 76, section 77, section 79, section 124, section 143 or section 144, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to two 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 who disobeys legal directions about investigation, or fails to record information of specified cognizable offences (mainly sexual offences and similar) under BNSS section 173(1).

Chapter XII: Of Offences By Or Relating To Public Servants

  1. 198 Public servant disobeying law, with intent to cause injury to any person
  2. 199 Public servant disobeying direction under law
  3. 200 Punishment for non-treatment of victim
  4. 201 Public servant framing an incorrect document with intent to cause injury
  5. 202 Public servant unlawfully engaging in trade
  6. 203 Public servant unlawfully buying or bidding for property
  7. 204 Personating a public servant
  8. 205 Wearing garb or carrying token used by public servant with fraudulent intent