Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits
Section 254 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 deals with penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits. Whoever, knowing or having reason to believe that any persons are about to commit or have recently committed robbery or dacoity, harbours them or any of them, with the intention of facilitating the commission of such robbery or dacoity, or of screening them or any of them from punishment, shall be p The Act came into force on 01 Jul 2024.
Whoever, knowing or having reason to believe that any persons are about to commit or have recently committed robbery or dacoity, harbours them or any of them, with the intention of facilitating the commission of such robbery or dacoity, or of screening them or any of them from punishment, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation.—For the purposes of this section it is immaterial whether the robbery or dacoity is intended to be committed, or has been committed, within or without India.
Exception.—The provisions of this section do not extend to the case in which the harbour is by the spouse of the offender.
Section 254, The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act 45 of 2023).
Replaces a provision of the Indian Penal Code
IPC 216A Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits Text carried over almost unchanged 95%
Measured by comparing the text of the two provisions, not taken from an official correspondence table — there is no machine-readable one. See both texts side by side before relying on it.
Both regimes are live. The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force. We never redirect one to the other.
How this offence is classified
From the First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, which classifies every offence under the Sanhita. Cognizable means a police officer may arrest without warrant; bailable means bail is a matter of right rather than of the court's discretion.
| Offence | Punishment | Cognizable | Bailable | Triable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harbouring robbers or dacoits. | Rigorous imprisonment for 7 years and fine. | Cognizable. | Bailable. | Magistrate of the first class. |
Related judgements & precedents
These are some judgments that construed this section, and hold precedence value. They hold authority on how to read, interpret and use this section.
-
Rahul Kumar& ANR. vs The State of Bihar
Decided under Indian Penal Code 216A, which this section replaces. The court did not have this Act before it.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
Recovery of illegal firearms and ammunition from the possession of accused persons constitutes sufficient grounds to reject bail applications, as such recovery demonstrates the serious nature of the charges and the potential danger posed by the accused, notwithstanding claims of false implication.
On this section: Charge against petitioners for alleged criminal conduct related to firearms possession
The holding above is the ratio decidendi as extracted from the judgment by eCourts India, reproduced unaltered — it is a rendering of the court's reasoning, not a substitute for its words. Read the order itself before relying on it.
Questions about Section 254
What have the courts held on Section 254 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?
Rahul Kumar& ANR. vs The State of Bihar (19 Aug 2017) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below, though it was decided under IPC 216A, which this section replaced -- the court never mentioned this Act: Charge against petitioners for alleged criminal conduct related to firearms possession.
Is Section 254 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita bailable?
Bailable, under the First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Is Section 254 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita cognizable?
Cognizable. "Cognizable" means a police officer may arrest without warrant; "non-cognizable" that they may not. An offence under this section is triable by Magistrate of the first class.
How do I find court cases under Section 254 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: BNS 254, section 254 BNS, section 254 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. People searching for it also type 254 bns in ipc and sec 254 bns. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 1 reported judgment on this section is set out on this page, beginning with Rahul Kumar& ANR. vs The State of Bihar (19 Aug 2017).
What should I read with Section 254 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and has it changed?
It carries forward IPC 216A (Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits), so the judgments decided under that provision are the case law on this one.
When did Section 254 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita come into force?
Section 254 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, cited as BNS 254, came into force on 01 Jul 2024, having been enacted on 25 Dec 2023. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 2. Definitions2199 words
- 356. Defamation1543 words
- 335. Making a false document1318 words
- 101. Murder1177 words
- 303. Theft1104 words
- 3. General explanations858 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.