eCourtsIndia
IndiaCode Laws
Section7
The Official Secrets Act, 1923

Interfering with officers of the police or members of the Armed Forces of the Union

In force From 02 Apr 1923 Act 19 of 1923 As on 19 Oct 2026

Act 19 of 1923 Ministry Home Affairs Enacted 02 Apr 1923 In force 02 Apr 1923 Cited by 1 provision

Section 7 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923 deals with interfering with officers of the police or members of the Armed Forces of the Union. No person in the vicinity of any prohibited place shall obstruct, knowingly mislead or otherwise interfere with or impede, any police officer, or any member of [the Armed Forces of the Union] engaged on guard, Sentry, patrol, or other similar duty in relation to the prohibited place. The Act came into force on 02 Apr 1923.

(1) No person in the vicinity of any prohibited place shall obstruct, knowingly mislead or otherwise interfere with or impede, any police officer, or any member of 1 [the Armed Forces of the Union] engaged on guard, Sentry, patrol, or other similar duty in relation to the prohibited place.

(2) If any person acts in contravention of the provisions of this section, he shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to 2 [three years], or with fine, or with both.

Section 7, The Official Secrets Act, 1923 (Act 19 of 1923).

Cross-references

Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.

Referred to by 1

  1. s. 12 Provisions of section 337 of Act 5 of 1898 to apply to offences under sections 3, 5 and 7

Questions about Section 7

What does Section 7 of the Official Secrets Act deal with?

Section 7 of the Official Secrets Act is headed "Interfering with officers of the police or members of the Armed Forces of the Union". No person in the vicinity of any prohibited place shall obstruct, knowingly mislead or otherwise interfere with or impede, any police officer, or any member of [the Armed Forces of the Union] engaged on guard, Sentry, patrol, or other similar duty in relation to the prohibited place.

How do I find court cases under Section 7 of the Official Secrets Act?

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: Official Secrets Act 1923 7, section 7 Official Secrets Act 1923, section 7 of the Official Secrets Act. People searching for it also type section 7 official secrets act. 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 7 of the Official Secrets Act, and has it changed?

1 other provision in this corpus refers back to it.

When did Section 7 of the Official Secrets Act come into force?

Section 7 of the Official Secrets Act, cited as Official Secrets Act 1923 7, came into force on 02 Apr 1923, having been enacted on 02 Apr 1923. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

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. Text as in force on 19 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.