BNS 208 — Non-attendance in obedience to an order from public servant.

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Statutory text

208. Whoever, being legally bound to attend in person or by an agent
at a certain place and time in obedience to a summons, notice, order, or
proclamation  proceeding  from  any  public  servant  legally  competent,  as
such public servant, to issue the same, intentionally omits to attend at that
place or time or departs from the place where he is bound to attend before
the time at which it is lawful for him to depart,–
(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 summons, notice, order or proclamation is to attend in
person or by agent in a Court 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.

Illustrations.
(a) A, being legally bound to appear before a High Court, in obedience
to a subpoena issuing from that Court, intentionally omits to appear. A has
committed the offence defined in this section.
(b)  A,  being  legally  bound  to  appear  before  a  District  Judge,  as  a
witness,  in  obedience  to  a  summons  issued  by  that  District  Judge
intentionally omits to appear. A has committed the offence defined in this
section.
Non-appearance in response to a proclamation under section 84 of
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

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