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IPC, 1860
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IPCChapter XSection 173
Section173

Preventing service of summons or other proceeding, or preventing publication thereof

AI Assist

Summary

Intentionally preventing a lawful summons, notice, order or proclamation from being served, posted, removed from its place, or made is an offence. For ordinary summons or notices the punishment may be simple imprisonment up to one month, or fine up to Rs.500, or both. If the document requires personal attendance or production of a document/electronic record in a court, punishment increases to up to six months or fine up to Rs.1,000, or both.

Example

Priya tears down a summons lawfully affixed to her shop so the officer cannot serve it. She can be punished with up to one month simple imprisonment or a fine up to Rs.500, or both. If that summons had required her to appear in court or produce a document, the punishment could be up to six months or a fine up to Rs.1,000, or both.

Bare Act

Enacted text

Whoever in any manner intentionally prevents the serving on himself, or on any other person, of any summons, notice or order proceeding from any public servant legally competent, such public servant, to issue such summons, notice or order,

or intentionally prevents the lawful affixing to any place of any such summons, notice or order,

or intentionally removes any such summons, notice or order from any place to which it is lawfully affixed,

or intentionally prevents the lawful making of any proclamation, under the authority of any public servant legally competent, as such public servant, to direct such proclamation to be made,

shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both;

or, if the summons, notice, order or proclamation is to attend in person or by agent, or to produce a document or electronic record in a Court of Justice, with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.

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X

Chapter X

Of Contempts of the Lawful Authority of Public Servants

In this chapter

  • 172Absconding to avoid service of summons or other proceeding
  • 173Preventing service of summons or other proceeding, or preventing publication thereof
  • 174Non-attendance in obedience to an order from public servant
  • 175Omission to produce document to public servant by person legally bound to produce it
  • 176Omission to give notice or information to public servant by person legally bound to give it
  • 177Furnishing false information
  • 178Refusing oath or affirmation when duly required by public servant to make it
  • 179Refusing to answer public servant authorized to question
  • 180Refusing to sign statement
  • 181False statement on oath or affirmation to public servant or person authorized to administer an oath or affirmation
  • 182False information, with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to the injury of another person
  • 183Resistance to the taking of property by the lawful authority of a public servant
  • 184Obstructing sale of property offered for sale by authority of public servant
  • 185Illegal purchase or bid for property offered for sale by authority of public servant
  • 186Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions
  • 187Omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give assistance
  • 188Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant
  • 189Threat of injury to public servant
  • 190Threat of injury to induce person to refrain from applying for protection to public servant
Previous · Section 172Absconding to avoid service of summons or other proceedingNext · Section 174Non-attendance in obedience to an order from public servant