Fraudulently or dishonestly diminishing weight or altering composition of Indian coin
Section 247 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 deals with fraudulently or dishonestly diminishing weight or altering composition of Indian coin. Whoever fraudulently or dishonestly performs on [any Indian coin] any operation which diminishes the weight or alters the composition of that coin, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine. 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 Repealed by section 358 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023) with effect from 1 July 2024, but conduct before that date is still charged, tried and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 fraudulently or dishonestly performs on [any Indian coin] any operation which diminishes the weight or alters the composition of that coin, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Section 247, The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Act 45 of 1860).
Now in the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita
No provision of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita is textually close to this one. No close match found
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 The repealed enactment still governs what happened while it was in force.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.
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
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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Madanlal Khandelwal vs State
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
An accused person who has been in judicial custody for an extended period (2.5 months in this case), whose investigation has been completed as evidenced by the filing of supplementary charge sheets, who is no longer required for custodial interrogation, who has no criminal antecedents, and who has co-accused persons granted bail by the same court, is entitled to bail despite being charged with serious offences, provided appropriate conditions are imposed to ensure his appearance in trial and prevent tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses.
On this section: Cited to establish that this section requires diminishing of weight or altering of composition of coins, which was not satisfied in the present case as coins were completely melted and converted into slabs.
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Hemant Kumar vs State of Delhi
Court's Decision & Legal Precedent
When an accused is charged with a bailable offence and has undergone substantial judicial custody, the court should grant bail pending trial with appropriate conditions such as personal bond and surety, unless there are compelling reasons to deny bail based on the nature of the offence or risk of absconding.
On this section: Petitioner was discharged under this section by the trial court on 17 October 2006
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.
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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… Appellant has been arrested on 03.08.2023 in connection with FIR No.194/2022 registered at Police Station-Chakghat, District Rewa (M.P.) for the offences punishable under Sections 147, 149, 294, 323, 332, 342, 535, 247 Indian Penal Code and under Section 3(1)(va) of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. 3. Learned counsel appearing for appellant submitted that offence alleged against appellant is not serious in nature and is punishable upto seven years of imprisonment. Investigation in the …
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… The supplementary Charge Sheet, according to the petitioner, was filed as the prosecution by now had realized that no offence was made out under Section 247 or 253 IPC. Accordingly, the following three additional offences were added : - (i) Section 4 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984; - (ii) Section 4 of the Small Coins [Offence] Act, 1971 [Act No.52 of 1971] - (iii) Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code. 6. Learned senior counsel for the …
Questions about Section 247
What have the courts held on Section 247 of the Indian Penal Code?
Madanlal Khandelwal vs State (29 May 2007) is the leading judgment on this section among those set out below: Cited to establish that this section requires diminishing of weight or altering of composition of coins, which was not satisfied in the present case as coins were completely melted and converted into slabs. Another 1 judgment on this section is set out below. They run from 2006 to 2007.
How do I find court cases under Section 247 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 247, section 247 IPC, section 247 of the Indian Penal Code. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome. 2 reported judgments on this section are set out on this page, beginning with Madanlal Khandelwal vs State (29 May 2007).
What should I read with Section 247 of the Indian Penal Code, and has it changed?
3 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it.
When did Section 247 of the Indian Penal Code come into force?
Section 247 of the Indian Penal Code, cited as IPC 247, 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.