Introduction of Section BNS 207
BNS 207 addresses situations where a person deliberately tries to stop the legal service of summons, notices, or orders. This could involve preventing the delivery of these legal documents to themselves or someone else, or removing them once they have been posted. The law ensures that no one can obstruct the legal process by avoiding these essential communications.

The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 207 replaces the old Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 173.
- Introduction of Section BNS 207
- What is BNS Section 207 ?
- BNS 207 in Simple Points
- Section 207 BNS Overview
- BNS 207 Punishment
- BNS 207 bailable or not ?
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 207
- BNS Section 207 FAQs
- If you need support with court proceedings or any other legal matters, don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance.
What is BNS Section 207 ?
BNS Section 207 deals with preventing the lawful service of legal documents such as summons, notices, or orders issued by a public servant. This section outlines the punishment for anyone who intentionally obstructs the process of serving these documents, removing them after they’ve been affixed or preventing their lawful publication.
BNS 207 in Simple Points
- Preventing the Service of Summons or Notices:
- This section covers situations where someone intentionally prevents a legal summons, notice, or order from being served either to themselves or another person. For example, if a person refuses to accept a summons or hides to avoid it, they are violating this section. It ensures that legal communications can’t be ignored or obstructed.
- Removal or Obstruction of Affixed Documents:
- If a summons or legal notice has been lawfully posted on a property (like affixed to a door), this section makes it an offense to remove or obstruct it. This applies if someone tears down a legal notice from a public or private place where it has been legally posted.
- Preventing Lawful Proclamation:
- This point applies when someone prevents a lawful proclamation from being made under the direction of a public servant. For example, in a legal matter, the court might order a public proclamation (such as an announcement in a village or a city area), and if a person prevents that from happening, they are guilty under this section.
- Punishment for General Obstruction (207(a)):
- If someone obstructs the service of general legal documents (like summons or orders not related to court attendance), they can be punished with up to 1 month of simple imprisonment or a fine of ₹5,000, or both. This ensures people respect legal communications and procedures.
- Punishment for Court-related Obstruction (207(b)):
- In cases where the legal document requires a person to attend court, submit documents, or appear in person, the punishment is more severe. It includes up to 6 months of simple imprisonment or a fine of ₹10,000, or both. This ensures that court-related orders are followed strictly.
Section 207 BNS Overview
BNS Section 207 deals with preventing the lawful service or publication of legal documents such as summons, notices, or orders issued by a public servant. It penalizes anyone who intentionally obstructs the process of serving these legal documents to themselves or others, removes them after being affixed in a lawful place, or hinders their lawful proclamation.
10 Key Points of BNS Section 207
- Preventing Service of Summons, Notice, or Order:
- This section is aimed at individuals who deliberately stop the delivery of legal documents such as summonses, notices, or orders. When a public servant, like a court official or police officer, attempts to serve a document, the recipient is expected to accept it. If the person hides, refuses to receive it, or otherwise obstructs the process, they are committing an offense under this section.
- Intentional Action:
- The key element in this section is intentional obstruction. The law only applies if the person deliberately prevents the service of the summons, notice, or order. Accidental or unintentional failure to receive these documents does not fall under this section. For example, if someone is out of town and unable to receive the notice, it’s not a crime under BNS Section 2207 unless they took intentional steps to avoid the process.
- Service on Another Person:
- The offense extends to preventing the service of legal documents not just on oneself, but also on others. For instance, if a person hides or shields someone else, or lies about their whereabouts to obstruct the service of a summons, that person is guilty under this section. This ensures that no one can help another avoid legal proceedings by obstructing service.
- Removing Affixed Summons or Notices:
- If a legal notice or summons is lawfully posted on a building or property, it is illegal to remove, deface, or destroy that notice. The law protects these affixed legal documents, and their removal is treated as an intentional act of obstruction. For example, if someone tears down a court notice posted on a community board or door, they are violating BNS Section 2207.
- Preventing the Lawful Proclamation of Notices:
- This point covers situations where a public servant makes a public proclamation under legal authority, such as announcing a court order. Anyone who interferes with this process, either by obstructing the person making the proclamation or preventing the proclamation from being heard or posted, commits an offense. For instance, blocking the entrance to a public space to stop an announcement would fall under this clause.
- Punishment for General Obstruction (Section 207(a)):
- For general obstruction (e.g., preventing a summons from being served on oneself or another person), the punishment can include simple imprisonment for up to 1 month or a fine of up to ₹5,000, or both. This punishment is aimed at ensuring compliance with legal processes in general cases that do not involve court attendance.
- Punishment for Court-related Obstruction (Section 207(b)):
- If the summons, notice, or order requires attendance in court or the production of a document, the punishment becomes more severe. In this case, the punishment can be up to 6 months of simple imprisonment or a fine of up to ₹10,000, or both. This clause emphasizes the seriousness of court-related summonses and documents.
- Non-Cognizable Offense:
- A non-cognizable offense means that the police cannot arrest the individual without a warrant, and an investigation cannot begin without the permission of a magistrate. This means that, although preventing the service of legal documents is a punishable offense, it is not considered as serious as cognizable offenses like assault or theft.
- Bailable Offense:
- The offense under BNS Section 207 is bailable, meaning the accused has the right to be released on bail. This allows the accused to avoid jail while awaiting trial, providing they can post bail. Bailable offenses are typically those where the punishment is less severe and the risk of fleeing or committing further crimes is lower.
- Triable by Any Magistrate:
- The offense is triable by any magistrate, which means any lower court (such as the court of a judicial magistrate) can try the case. This allows for flexibility in handling cases under BNS Section 207, as they do not require a higher court’s jurisdiction.
Examples of BNS Section 207
- Example 1: Preventing Service of Summons (207(a)):
- A landlord receives a legal notice regarding a property dispute. Knowing that the notice will bring trouble, he tells the messenger he’s not available and avoids receiving the document. Since he is deliberately avoiding the legal service of the notice, he is guilty under BNS Section 207(a).
- Example 2: Removing Affixed Notice (207(b)):
- A man sees a summons related to a court appearance affixed to his door. Fearing the consequences, he tears it down and destroys it. Since this summons required a court appearance, his actions fall under BNS Section 207(b), and he can be punished with up to 6 months of imprisonment or a fine of ₹10,000.
BNS 207 Punishment
- Imprisonment:
- General obstruction of legal summons or notices (207(a)) can result in up to 1 month of simple imprisonment. However, if the obstruction is related to court orders (207(b)), the imprisonment can extend to 6 months.
- Fine:
- For general obstruction, a person can be fined up to ₹5,000, and for court-related obstruction, the fine can go up to ₹10,000. Both punishments are designed to deter people from hindering legal processes.

BNS 207 bailable or not ?
The offense under BNS Section 207 is bailable, meaning the person accused can seek bail and does not necessarily have to remain in custody during the trial. This balances the seriousness of the offense with fairness in legal proceedings.
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 207
Aspect | Details |
---|---|
Section Number | 207 |
Offense | Preventing service of summons, notice, or order |
Punishment (General Obstruction) | Up to 1 month simple imprisonment or ₹5,000 fine, or both |
Punishment (Court-related Obstruction) | Up to 6 months simple imprisonment or ₹10,000 fine, or both |
Cognizability | Non-cognizable |
Bailable | Yes |
Triable By | Any Magistrate |
Compoundable | No |
BNS Section 207 FAQs
What does BNS Section 207 cover?
BNS Section 207 deals with anyone who intentionally prevents the delivery or publication of a summons, notice, or order issued by a public servant.
What happens if someone removes a summons affixed to a property?
If someone removes a legally affixed summons or notice, they can face punishment under BNS Section 207, which includes imprisonment or fines.
Is an offense under BNS Section 207 bailable?
Yes, offenses under BNS Section 207 are bailable, meaning the accused can seek bail during the trial process.
What is the difference between 207(a) and 207(b)?
Section 207(a) relates to general legal documents like summons and orders, while 207(b) applies specifically to court-related orders, with more severe punishment.
Who can try offenses under Section 207?
Any Magistrate can handle offenses under BNS Section 207, as it is triable by any magistrate.
If you need support with court proceedings or any other legal matters, don’t hesitate to reach out for assistance.
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