Section 246 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023
Section 246 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (BNS), located within Chapter XIV – False Evidence and Offences Against Public Justice:
📝 Section 246 – Dishonestly Making a False Claim in Court
Offence
The section criminalizes situations where a person, fraudulently or dishonestly, or with the intent to injure or annoy, makes in a Court any claim which they know to be false. (sudhirrao.com)
Punishment
The offender may face:
Imprisonment (either simple or rigorous) for up to 2 years,
And/or a fine.
Additional Legal Details
This offence is non-cognizable and bailable, and typically triable by a First Class Magistrate, as indicated by legal platforms analyzing BNS — though the bare act itself does not label it explicitly.
📊 Quick Reference Table
| Element | Details |
|---|---|
| Who it applies to | Any person making a knowingly false claim in court, intending to harm or annoy |
| Conduct | Dishonestly or fraudulently presenting a false claim |
| Penalty | Up to 2 years’ imprisonment (simple or rigorous) and/or fine |
| Nature of Offence | Non-cognizable, bailable (Magistrate trial) |
🔍 Context & Relation to Adjacent Sections
Section 246 is part of a broader cluster targeting court-related deceptions, including:
Section 244–245: False or fraudulent claims, and suffering fraudulent decrees
Section 247: Fraudulently obtaining a decree
Section 248: False criminal charges with intent to injure
All these sections aim to preserve the integrity of judicial proceedings by penalizing dishonesty that abuses the court system.
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