Public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture
Section 255 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 deals with public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture. Whoever, being a public servant, knowingly disobeys any direction of the law as to the way in which he is to conduct himself as such public servant, intending thereby to save, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby save, any person from legal punishment, or subject him to a less punishment The Act came into force on 01 Jul 2024.
Whoever, being a public servant, knowingly disobeys any direction of the law as to the way in which he is to conduct himself as such public servant, intending thereby to save, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby save, any person from legal punishment, or subject him to a less punishment than that to which he is liable, or with intent to save, or knowing that he is likely thereby to save, any property from forfeiture or any charge to which it is liable by law, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
Section 255, The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act 45 of 2023).
Replaces a provision of the Indian Penal Code
IPC 217 Public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture Text carried over almost unchanged 100%
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 The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force.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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public servant disobeying a direction of law with intent to save person from punishment, or property from forfeiture. | Imprisonment for 2 years, or fine, or both. | Non-cognizable. | Bailable. | Any Magistrate. |
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.
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Ram Prakash Chaddha vs The State of Uttar Pradesh
Decided under Indian Penal Code 217, which this section replaces. The court did not have this Act before it.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
At the stage of considering discharge application under Section 227 Cr.PC, the court must confine its consideration to 'the record of the case and the documents submitted therewith' (prosecution materials only) and determine whether a prima facie case exists based on grave suspicion emerging from such materials. Mere suspicion, supposition, or conjecture not founded on materials on record cannot justify framing charges. In cases of criminal conspiracy, there must be at least an allegation of agreement between conspirators; absent such allegation or evidence of agreement in prosecution materials, charges of conspiracy cannot be framed merely on basis of suspicious circumstances. The court is not a mere post office of prosecution but must exercise independent judicial mind to protect accused from frivolous prosecution, especially at pre-trial stage.
On this section: Fabricating false evidence; appellant was charged under this section
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Tummala Lakshmana Rao vs Sri Sadhu Narayana
Decided under Indian Penal Code 217, which this section replaces. The court did not have this Act before it.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
When a public servant, including a judge, is accused of offences punishable under Sections 217, 218, 219, 166, and 167 IPC (offences committable only by public servants), previous sanction of the appropriate Government under Section 197 Cr.P.C is a mandatory condition precedent for taking cognizance of such offences. Additionally, judicial acts performed by judges in exercise of their judicial powers are protected by Section 77 IPC, and official actions taken pursuant to judicial orders are protected by Section 78 IPC. Private criminal complaints against judges for acts performed in their judicial capacity are not maintainable, and the proper remedy is through appellate courts, not collateral criminal proceedings.
On this section: Public servant disobeying law, framing incorrect record, and wrongfully concealing record; court held Section 197 Cr.P.C sanction is mandatory
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Sureshkumar vs The Inspector of Police
Decided under Indian Penal Code 217, which this section replaces. The court did not have this Act before it.
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
When investigation into a grave offence involving death in custody is conducted in a casual manner with procedural irregularities such as filing absconding charge sheet against available accused without proper interrogation, and when custodial interrogation is necessary to establish facts, anticipatory bail should not be granted under Section 438 Cr.P.C., and the accused should be directed to surrender and seek regular bail.
On this section: Fabricating false evidence; cited in charges
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 255
What have the courts held on Section 255 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?
Ram Prakash Chaddha vs The State of Uttar Pradesh (15 Jul 2024) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below, though it was decided under IPC 217, which this section replaced -- the court never mentioned this Act: Fabricating false evidence; appellant was charged under this section. Another 2 judgments on this section are set out below, 1 of them from the Supreme Court. They run from 2010 to 2024.
Is Section 255 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita bailable?
Bailable, under the First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
Is Section 255 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita cognizable?
Non-cognizable. "Cognizable" means a police officer may arrest without warrant; "non-cognizable" that they may not. An offence under this section is triable by Any Magistrate.
How do I find court cases under Section 255 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 255, section 255 BNS, section 255 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. People searching for it also type 255 bns in ipc and 255 bns act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 3 reported judgments on this section are set out on this page, beginning with Ram Prakash Chaddha vs The State of Uttar Pradesh (15 Jul 2024).
What should I read with Section 255 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and has it changed?
It carries forward IPC 217 (Public servant disobeying direction of law with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture), so the judgments decided under that provision are the case law on this one.
When did Section 255 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita come into force?
Section 255 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, cited as BNS 255, 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
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- 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 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.