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Wednesday, 11 November 2026 Judgments, law jobs and study notes, written by a practising advocate
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter XIII: Of Contempts Of The Lawful Authority Of Public Servants

Section 206 BNS: Absconding to avoid service of summons or other proceeding

Corresponding IPC
Section 172 IPC
Punishment
(a) Simple imprisonment up to 1 month, or fine up to Rs 5,000, or both; (b) court summons: simple imprisonment up to 6 months, or fine up to Rs 10,000, or both

Classification of offence

SectionCognizable?Bailable?Triable by
206(a)Non-cognizableBailableAny Magistrate
206(b)Non-cognizableBailableAny Magistrate

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

Bare Act text

Whoever absconds in order to avoid being served with a summons, notice or order proceeding from any public servant legally competent, as such public servant, to issue such summons, notice or order,—

(a) shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both;

(b) where such summons or notice or order is to attend in person or by agent, or to produce a document or an electronic record in a Court shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees, or with both.

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 absconding to avoid service of a summons, notice or order from a competent public servant, with a higher penalty where the summons is to attend or produce a document in court.

Chapter XIII: Of Contempts Of The Lawful Authority Of Public Servants

  1. 206 Absconding to avoid service of summons or other proceeding
  2. 207 Preventing service of summons or other proceeding, or preventing publication thereof
  3. 208 Non-attendance in obedience to an order from public servant
  4. 209 Non-appearance in response to a proclamation under section 84 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
  5. 210 Omission to produce document or electronic record to public servant by person legally bound to produce it
  6. 211 Omission to give notice or information to public servant by person legally bound to give it
  7. 212 Furnishing false information
  8. 213 Refusing oath or affirmation when duly required by public servant to make it
  9. 214 Refusing to answer public servant authorised to question
  10. 215 Refusing to sign statement
  11. 216 False statement on oath or affirmation to public servant or person authorised to administer an oath or affirmation
  12. 217 False information, with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to injury of another person
  13. 218 Resistance to taking of property by lawful authority of a public servant
  14. 219 Obstructing sale of property offered for sale by authority of public servant
  15. 220 Illegal purchase or bid for property offered for sale by authority of public servant
  16. 221 Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions
  17. 222 Omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give assistance
  18. 223 Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant
  19. 224 Threat of injury to public servant
  20. 225 Threat of injury to induce person to refrain from applying for protection to public servant
  21. 226 Attempt to commit suicide to compel or restrain exercise of lawful power
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