What Is BNS Section 337?

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 - Section 337: Forgery of Record of Court or of Public Register, etc.

Whoever forges a document or an electronic record, purporting to be a record or proceeding of or in a Court or an identity document issued by Government including voter identity card or Aadhaar Card, or a register of birth, marriage or burial, or a register kept by a public servant as such, or a certificate or document purporting to be made by a public servant in his official capacity, or an authority to institute or defend a suit, or to take any proceedings therein, or to confess judgment, or a power of attorney, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Explanation—For the purposes of this section, register includes any list, data or record of any entries maintained in the electronic form as defined in clause (r) of sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

Brief Detail

BNS Section 337 addresses the forgery of important documents such as court records, identity documents, and registers maintained by public authorities, outlining the serious penalties for such offenses.

Question & Answers

Q1: What types of documents are covered under Section 337?

A1: Section 337 covers forged documents that include court records, identity documents issued by the government (like Aadhaar cards), and registers maintained by public servants.

Q2: What are the penalties for forging documents as specified in Section 337?

A2: The penalties for forgery under Section 337 include imprisonment for up to seven years and potential fines.

Q3: Does Section 337 include electronic records?

A3: Yes, Section 337 includes electronic records that purport to be official documents or proceedings.

Q4: How is the term register defined in this section?

A4: The term register includes any list, data, or record maintained electronically, as per the Information Technology Act, 2000.

Example

For example, if A forges a court document to claim a judgment that was never made, A is committing forgery under Section 337.

Summary

BNS Section 337 outlines the serious implications and penalties for forging court records and government-issued documents, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the integrity of official records.