BNS Chapter IX — Offences Relating to Elections
Introduction
Chapter IX of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita talks about crimes that can happen during elections. Elections are meant to be fair, where people choose their leaders freely. But sometimes, wrong practices like bribery, threats, false promises, and fake voting are used to change the result. This chapter clearly explains what is not allowed in elections. It also tells candidates to keep a proper record of money spent on elections so that the process remains clean and honest. In short, it protects the rights of voters and ensures that elections are free and fair.
BNS Sections Covered
| BNS Section | Title | Short Description |
|---|---|---|
| 169 | Candidate, electoral right defined | Explains who is a candidate and what electoral rights mean. |
| 170 | Bribery | Making or taking payments to influence votes is a crime. |
| 171 | Undue influence at elections | Using threats, force, or pressure to affect voters is punishable. |
| 172 | Personation at elections | Voting in someone else’s name or impersonation during voting is illegal. |
| 173 | Punishment for bribery | Explains penalties for giving or taking bribes in elections. |
| 174 | Punishment for undue influence or personation | Punishes those who threaten voters or impersonate them. |
| 175 | False statement in connection with an election | Making false claims to mislead voters is an offence. |
| 176 | Illegal payments in connection with an election | Payments or gifts given during elections that are not allowed by law. |
| 177 | Failure to keep election accounts | Candidates must keep expense records, failing which is punishable. |
Conclusion
Chapter IX (BNS Sections 169–177) makes elections fair and safe for voters. It stops bribery, threats, fake voting, and false promises. It also asks candidates to keep records of how much money they spend in elections. This way, everyone gets an equal chance, and people can vote without fear or pressure. In simple words, this chapter protects the honesty of elections and helps in building true democracy.