Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter XIII: Of Contempts of the Lawful Authority of Public Servants
Section 206: Absconding to avoid service of summons or other proceeding
In plain words
Absconding to avoid being served a summons, notice or order from a competent public servant is punishable with simple imprisonment up to one month, or a fine up to five thousand rupees, or both.
- If the summons, notice or order is to appear in court, or to produce a document or electronic record in court: up to six months, or a fine up to ten thousand rupees, or both.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
Whoever absconds in order to avoid being served with a summons, notice or order proceeding from any public servant legally competent, as such public servant, to issue such summons, notice or order,—
(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 such summons or notice or order is to attend in person or by agent, or to produce a document or an electronic record in a Court shall be punished 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.
Corresponding sections were matched by comparing the wording of both official texts, and for the IPC and BNS, also against a published correspondence table. Wording, punishments and structure often changed, so read both sections before relying on the match.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 25 August 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 206
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.