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Section140
The Indian Penal Code, 1860

Wearing garb or carrying token used by soldier, sailor or airman

Repealed From 01 Jan 1862 Act 45 of 1860 As on 17 Oct 2026

Act 45 of 1860 Ministry Home Affairs Enacted 06 Oct 1860 In force 01 Jan 1862

This provision is repealed. Repealed by section 358 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023) with effect from 1 July 2024. It is reproduced because conduct before that date is still charged, tried and appealed under it.

Section 140 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 deals with wearing garb or carrying token used by soldier, sailor or airman. Whoever, not being a soldier, [sailor or airman] in the Military, [Naval or Air] service of the [Government of India], wears any garb or carries any token resembling any garb or token used by such a soldier, [sailor or airman] with the intention that it may be believed that he is such a soldier, [sa The Act came into force on 01 Jan 1862. Repealed by section 358 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023) with effect from 1 July 2024, but conduct before that date is still charged, tried and appealed under it.

Whoever, not being a soldier, [sailor or airman] in the Military, [Naval or Air] service of the [Government of India], wears any garb or carries any token resembling any garb or token used by such a soldier, [sailor or airman] with the intention that it may be believed that he is such a soldier, [sailor or airman], shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.

CHAPTER VIII

OF OFFENCES AGAINST THE PUBLIC TRANQUILLITY

CHAPTER VIII

OF OFFENCES AGAINST THE PUBLIC TRANQUILLITY

Section 140, The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Act 45 of 1860).

Now in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita

BNS 168 Wearing garb or carrying token used by soldier, sailor or airman 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 The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force.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.

Questions about Section 140

What does Section 140 of the Indian Penal Code deal with?

Section 140 of the Indian Penal Code is headed "Wearing garb or carrying token used by soldier, sailor or airman". Whoever, not being a soldier, [sailor or airman] in the Military, [Naval or Air] service of the [Government of India], wears any garb or carries any token resembling any garb or token used by such a soldier, [sailor or airman] with the intention that it may be believed that he is such a soldier, [sa

How do I find court cases under Section 140 of the Indian Penal Code?

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: IPC 140, section 140 IPC, section 140 of the Indian Penal Code. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.

What should I read with Section 140 of the Indian Penal Code, and has it changed?

For anything done on or after 1 July 2024 the provision to read is BNS 168 (Wearing garb or carrying token used by soldier, sailor or airman), which replaced it; conduct before that date is still charged, tried and appealed under this section.

When did Section 140 of the Indian Penal Code come into force?

Section 140 of the Indian Penal Code, cited as IPC 140, came into force on 01 Jan 1862, having been enacted on 06 Oct 1860. It is no longer in force.

Other sections of this Act

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. Recovered from the consolidated text published by India Code (item 7b7d4fe6-206b-4e33-81f1-b98b018acaf6). This page is not a substitute for legal advice.