Personation at elections
Section 171D of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 deals with personation at elections. Whoever at an election applies for a voting paper on votes in the name of any other person, whether living or dead, or in a fictitious name, or who having voted once at such election applies at the same election for a voting paper in his own name, and whoever abets, procures or attempts to procure t 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 Repealed by section 358 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023) with effect from 1 July 2024, but conduct before that date is still charged, tried and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 at an election applies for a voting paper on votes in the name of any other person, whether living or dead, or in a fictitious name, or who having voted once at such election applies at the same election for a voting paper in his own name, and whoever abets, procures or attempts to procure the voting by any person in any such way, commits the offence of personation at an election.
Section 171D, The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Act 45 of 1860).
Now in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
BNS 172 Personation at elections Text carried over almost unchanged 90%
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 The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force.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.
Judgments citing this section
These may be obiter dicta or a precedent, for you to study. These are the judgments where this section is quoted.
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… Dated this the 16th day of October, 2024 ORDER Petitioner is the accused in Crime No.146/2024 of Chakkarakkallu Police Station, Kannur. The offences alleged against the petitioner are under Sections 171D, 465, 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. - 2. Prosecution alleges that the petitioner, who is the Secretary of Ancharakandi Educational Society, forged proxy forms and share certificates relating to the said society and used the same, resulting in the share holders being unable to vote in the election to …
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… This is an application where petitioner has prayed for quashing of the proceeding being G.R. Case No. 189 of 2022 presently pending before the learned Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jhargram corresponding to Jhargram Police Station case no. 63 of 2022 dated 27th February, 2022 under Sections 188,186,171C, 171D and 506 of the Indian Penal Code. It is submitted on behalf of the petitioner that the petitioner is a journalist. It is alleged that on 27.02.2022 while the petitioner was covering news at different polling booths in the course of Jhargram Municipal Election, they came to know about a skirmish between supporters …
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… JUSTICE RAJEEV RANJAN PRASAD ORAL ORDER 2 14-09-2022 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the State. The petitioner in the present case is looking for a proper and fair investigation of Bhabua (Sonhan) P.S. Case No. 199 of 2018 registered under Section 171D/171C/188/341/323/332/353/504/506/457/468/471/419/42 0/34 of the Indian Penal Code and further for a direction upon the respondents to protect the life and property of the petitioner and his family. This Court has, while disposing of the batch of writ applications the …
Questions about Section 171D
What does Section 171D of the Indian Penal Code deal with?
Section 171D of the Indian Penal Code is headed "Personation at elections". Whoever at an election applies for a voting paper on votes in the name of any other person, whether living or dead, or in a fictitious name, or who having voted once at such election applies at the same election for a voting paper in his own name, and whoever abets, procures or attempts to procure t
How do I find court cases under Section 171D 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 171D, section 171D IPC, section 171D 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 171D of the Indian Penal Code, and has it changed?
For anything done on or after 1 July 2024 the provision to read is BNS 172 (Personation at elections), which replaced it; conduct before that date is still charged, tried and appealed under this section.
When did Section 171D of the Indian Penal Code come into force?
Section 171D of the Indian Penal Code, cited as IPC 171D, 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
- 499. Defamation1512 words
- 464. Making a false document1223 words
- 300. Murder1172 words
- 378. Theft980 words
- 108. Abettor745 words
- 403. Dishonest misappropriation of property727 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. Recovered from the consolidated text published by India Code (item 7b7d4fe6-206b-4e33-81f1-b98b018acaf6). This page is not a substitute for legal advice.