Indian Penal Code, 1860 · Chapter X: Of Contempts of the Lawful Authority of Public Servants

Section 186: Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions

The Indian Penal Code, 1860 was repealed and replaced by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 from 1 July 2024. It still applies to offences and proceedings from before that date.

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 186

• Devendra Kumar v. The State (Nct of Delhi) & Anr.
  2025 INSC 100920 August 2025Disposed of

  High Court affirmed the order passed by the CMM directing registration of the FIR against the petitioner for offences punishable u/ss.186 and 341, Penal Code, 1860. Whether the CMM erred in involving the police in a…

• Gurdeep Singh v. The State of Punjab
  2025 INSC 95711 August 2025Dismissed

  Issue arose whether the order of conviction and sentence of the appellant for the offences u/ss.307, 353, 332, 225, 186, and 120B IPC and s.25 of the Arms Act, 1959 by the courts below was legally sustainable.

• Umashankar Yadav & Anr. v. State of Uttar Pradesh, Through Chief Secretary & Anr.
  2025 INSC 6538 May 2025Appeal(s) allowed

  Whether the High Court erred by not quashing the prosecution against the accused under ss.186 and 353 of Indian Penal Code.

• B.N. John v. State of U.P. & Anr.
  2025 INSC 41 January 2025Appeal(s) allowed

  Appellant herein has sought quashing of criminal proceedings arising under sections 353 and 186 of IPC.

• Mahendra Kumar Sonker v. The State of Madhya Pradesh
  2024 INSC 60012 August 2024Appeal(s) allowed

  Whether the conviction of the appellant under s.353 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) can be sustained without proving assault and use of criminal force.

• Saumya Chaurasia v. Directorate of
  2023 INSC 107314 December 2023Dismissed

  Appellant aggrieved by the order of the High Court dismissing the bail application filed u/s.439 of Cr.P.C. has preferred this appeal. (i) Whether the appellant was prima facie found involved in the commission of the…

• Ameena Begum v. The State of Telangana
  2023 INSC 7884 September 2023Appeal(s) allowed

  An order of detention dated 24.03.2023 was passed by the Commissioner of Police against appellant’ s husband. Whether the alleged acts of commission for which the Detenu has been kept under detention are prejudicial to…

• State of Haryana v. Dharamraj
  2023 INSC 78429 August 2023Appeal(s) allowed

  In instant appeal, the State seeks cancellation of anticipatory bail granted to the sole respondent by the Single Judge of the High Court.

• Central Bureau of Investigation v. Aryan Singh Etc.
  2023 INSC 33810 April 2023Appeal(s) allowed
• Sunil Saini & Ors. v. The State of Haryana & Ors.
  2023 INSC 71530 January 2023Disposed of
• Istkar v. The State of Uttar Pradesh & Anr.
  2022 INSC 132411 November 2022Partly allowed
• Mohd. Arif @ Ashfaq v. State (Nct of Delhi)
  2022 INSC 11563 November 2022Dismissed
• Zakia Ahsan Jafri v. State of Gujarat & Anr.
  2022 INSC 65324 June 2022Dismissed
• Shantaben Bhurabhai Bhuriya v. Anand Athabhai Chaudhari & Ors.
  2021 INSC 67426 October 2021Appeal(s) allowed
• Nisha Priya Bhatia v. Union of India & Anr.
  2020 INSC 35524 April 2020Disposed of
• Ganga Malik v. Union of India & Ors.
  2018 INSC 24016 March 2018Dismissed
• Pramod Kumar v. State (Gnct) of Delhi
  2013 INSC 3901 July 2013Dismissed
• Ritesh Sinha v. The State of Utiar Pradesh & Anr.
  2012 INSC 5717 December 2012Matter referred to larger bench
• Jakia Nasim Ahesan & Anr. v. State of Gujarat & Ors.
  2011 INSC 67112 September 2011Disposed of
• Satyavir Singh Rathi v. State Thr. C.B.I
  2011 INSC 3472 May 2011Dismissed
• Virender Chaudhary v. Bharat Petroleum Corporation &Ors.
  2008 INSC 12707 November 2008Appeal(s) allowed
• State Rep. by D.S.P., S.B. C.L.D., Chennai v. K.V. Rajendran & Ors.
  2008 INSC 10052 September 2008Partly allowed
• Dinesh M.N. (S.P.) v. State of Gujarat
  2008 INSC 53228 April 2008Dismissed
• State Through Spe & Cbi, Ap v. M. Krishna Mohan and Anr.
  2007 INSC 108912 October 2007Appeal(s) allowed
• Commissioner of Police, New Delhi v. Narender Singh
  2006 INSC 2095 April 2006Appeal(s) allowed
• Sube Singh v. State of Haryana and Ors.
  2006 INSC 673 February 2006Disposed of
• State (N.C.T. of Delhi) v. Navjot Sandhu@Afsan Guru
  2005 INSC 3334 August 2005
• Bihar Public Service Commission and Anr. Etc. v. Dr. Shiv Jatan Thakur and Ors. Etc.
  1994 INSC 28222 July 1994Disposed of
• Delhi Judicial Service Association Tis Hazari Court, Delhi Etc. Etc. v. State of Gujarat and Ors. Etc. Etc.
  1991 INSC 22511 September 1991Disposed of
• Collector of Customs and Central Excise, Bhubneshwar, District Puri v. Paradip Port Trust and Anr.
  1990 INSC 2268 August 1990Appeal(s) allowed
• Sunil Gupta and Ors. v. State of Madhya Pradesh and Ors.
  1990 INSC 1722 May 1990Disposed of