Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Chapter VII: Of Offences Relating to the Army, Navyand Air Force
Section 131: Abetting mutiny, or attempting to seduce a soldier, sailor or airman from his duty
The Indian Penal Code, 1860 was repealed and replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024. It still applies to matters and proceedings from before that date, as the repealing law provides.
In plain words
Abetting mutiny by an officer, soldier, sailor or airman of India's Army, Navy or Air Force, or attempting to seduce them from their allegiance or duty, is punishable with imprisonment for life or imprisonment of either description for up to ten years, and a fine.
- These terms include anyone subject to the Army Act, 1950, the Indian Navy (Discipline) Act, 1934, or the Air Force Act, 1950.
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 abets the committing of mutiny by an officer, soldier, [sailor or airman], in the Army, [Navy or Air Force] of the [Government of India] or attempts to seduce any such officer, soldier, [sailor or airman] from his allegiance or his duty, shall be punished with [imprisonment for life], or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine. [Explanation.—In this section the words “officer”, [“soldier”, [“sailor”] and “airman”] include any
person subject to the [Army Act, [the Army Act, 1950 (46 of 1950)], [the Naval Discipline Act,***the 5Indian Navy (Discipline) Act,1934 (34 of 1934)] [the Air Force Act or [the Air Force Act, 1950 (45 of 1950)]], as the case may be].]
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 (Legislative Department), the text of the Act as it stood before its repeal. 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.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 131
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.