What Is BNS Section 211?

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 - Section 211: Omission to Give Notice or Information to Public Servant by Person Legally Bound to Give It

Whoever, being legally bound to give any notice or to furnish information on any subject to any public servant, as such, intentionally omits to give such notice or to furnish such information in the manner and at the time required by law,

• (a) shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both;
• (b) where the notice or information required to be given respects the commission of an offence, or is required for the purpose of preventing the commission of an offence, or in order to the apprehension of an offender, with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees, or with both;
• (c) where the notice or information required to be given is required by an order passed under section 394 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.

Brief Detail

BNS Section 211 addresses the legal obligation of a person to provide notice or information to a public servant when legally required. Failure to comply can result in varying degrees of punishment, depending on the nature of the omission and the importance of the information not provided.

Question & Answers

Q1: What does BNS Section 211 cover?

A1: BNS Section 211 covers situations where a person, legally bound to provide notice or information to a public servant, intentionally omits to do so. The severity of punishment depends on the significance of the notice or information omitted.

Q2: What are the penalties under BNS Section 211?

A2: The penalties under BNS Section 211 are:

• For general omissions: Simple imprisonment up to one month or a fine up to five thousand rupees, or both.
• If the omission relates to the commission of an offence or preventing an offence: Simple imprisonment up to six months or a fine up to ten thousand rupees, or both.
• If the omission relates to an order under Section 394 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023: Imprisonment up to six months or a fine up to one thousand rupees, or both.

Example

Example Scenario:

If a person, who is legally required to report information about a crime to the police, intentionally fails to do so, they can be punished under BNS Section 211 with imprisonment up to six months or a fine, depending on the specifics of the omission.

Summary

BNS Section 211 penalizes individuals who, despite being legally bound, fail to provide required notice or information to public servants. The punishment varies based on the nature of the information omitted, ranging from minor fines to imprisonment.