CHAPTER XIV OF FALSE EVIDENCE AND OFFENCES AGAINST PUBLIC JUSTICE

Section 254: Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Whoever, knowing or having reason to believe that any persons are about to commit or have recently committed robbery or dacoity, harbours them or any of them, with the intention of facilitating the commission of such robbery or dacoity, or of screening them or any of them from punishment, shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Explanation.—For the purposes of this section it is immaterial whether the robbery or dacoity is intended to be committed, or has been committed, within or without India.

Exception.—The provisions of this section do not extend to the case in which the harbour is by the spouse of the offender.

Corresponding IPC provision

As given in the correspondence table of the National Crime Records Bureau (Ministry of Home Affairs). Read both texts before relying on it. NCRB table

254	216A.Penalty for harbouring robbers or dacoits.

Questions on this section

1 question in 6 of our papers cite Section 254. Try these from the free papers:

1. Assertion (A): A person who, in India, harbours a gang, knowing that its members are about to commit a dacoity in a neighbouring country, with the intention of facilitating that dacoity, is punishable under Section 254 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Reason (R): Under the Explanation to Section 254 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, it is immaterial whether the robbery or dacoity is intended to be committed, or has been committed, within or without India. Choose the correct option.

Practise questions on Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita