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Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

BNS offence reference

Search sections and compare offence classifications.

Examples:

All offences

3 entries · In section order

Offences, punishments, bail status, arrest classifications and trial courts. Select a section to read every entry under that section.
SectionOffencePunishmentBail statusArrest classificationTrial court
Section 238(a)

Causing disappearance of evidence of an offence committed, or giving false information touching it to screen the offender, if a capital offence.
Imprisonment for 7 years and fine.
Bailable
According as the offence in relation to which disappearance of evidence is caused is cognizable or non-cognizable.
Court of Session.
Section 238(b)

If punishable with imprisonment for life or imprisonment for 10 years.

Read together with the other entries in Section 238.
Imprisonment for 3 years and fine.
Bailable
Non-cognizable
Magistrate of the first class.
Section 238(c)

If punishable with less than 10 years' imprisonment.

Read together with the other entries in Section 238.
Imprisonment for one-fourth of the longest term provided for the offence, or fine, or both.
Bailable
Non-cognizable
Court by which the offence is triable.
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Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Section 238

Chapter 14 · Evidence & justice3 classification entries · All shown below

Section 238(a)

Causing disappearance of evidence of an offence committed, or giving false information touching it to screen the offender, if a capital offence.

Punishment

Imprisonment for 7 years and fine.

Section 238(a) classifications
ClassificationDetails
Bail statusBailable
Arrest classificationAccording as the offence in relation to which disappearance of evidence is caused is cognizable or non-cognizable.
Trial courtCourt of Session.

Section 238(b)

If punishable with imprisonment for life or imprisonment for 10 years.

Read together with the other entries in Section 238.

Punishment

Imprisonment for 3 years and fine.

Section 238(b) classifications
ClassificationDetails
Bail statusBailable
Arrest classificationNon-cognizable
Trial courtMagistrate of the first class.

Section 238(c)

If punishable with less than 10 years' imprisonment.

Read together with the other entries in Section 238.

Punishment

Imprisonment for one-fourth of the longest term provided for the offence, or fine, or both.

Section 238(c) classifications
ClassificationDetails
Bail statusBailable
Arrest classificationNon-cognizable
Trial courtCourt by which the offence is triable.

These are summaries from the original central schedule. Read the full provision for its conditions and exceptions.

BNS Reference

Original central BNSS First Schedule. Classification summaries, not the full statutory text. Later amendments and state variations are not consolidated here.

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How to read an entry

Offence & punishment

The offence summary and punishment listed in the schedule. Read any conditions or alternative entries under the same section.

Bail status

Shows whether the schedule lists the offence as bailable, non-bailable, or dependent on another offence.

Arrest classification

The legal term is cognizability. “Cognizable” means a police officer may arrest without warrant. “Non-cognizable” means a police officer shall not arrest without warrant. Conditions are shown in full.

Trial court

The court specified in the schedule. “Magistrate of the first class” and “any Magistrate” exclude Executive Magistrates.

Coverage

465 BNS classification entries across 288 sections, plus three general classification bands for offences under other laws.

What is included

The original central BNSS First Schedule: offence summaries, punishment summaries, cognizability, bailability and trial courts. This is not the full BNS text or a case-law collection. Later amendments, commencement changes and state variations are not consolidated here.

Read each condition

Different entries under the same section may have different classifications. A status may depend on the offence, the complainant or another condition. The full wording appears with each entry.

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Enter a section, an offence or punishment. Separate several sections with commas, such as 103, 105. Use Filters for chapter, bail status, arrest classification or court. Saved entries stay in this browser on this device.

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