Whoever, being legally bound to attend in person or by an agent at a certain place and time in obedience to a summons, a notice, an order or a proclamation, proceeding from any public servant legally competent, as such public servant, to issue the same, intentionally omits to attend at the place or time, or departs from the place where he is bound to attend before the time at which it is lawful for him to depart, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to $1,500, or with both; or if the summons, notice, order or proclamation is to attend in person or by agent before a court of justice, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 6 months, or with fine which may extend to $3,000, or with both.
Section history
Section 174 — Failure to attend in obedience to an order from a public servant
As in force on 30 November 2008.
The text below is this provision as reproduced in the Revised Edition that came into force on this date. A revised edition consolidates the law without changing its substance, so editorial amendments — such as renumbering, updated citations and formatting — may have been made but are not shown as a redline.
Illustrations
(a) A, being legally bound to appear before the High Court, in obedience to a subpoena issuing from that Court, intentionally omits to appear. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
(b) A, being legally bound to appear before a Magistrate as a witness, in obedience to a summons issued by that Magistrate, intentionally omits to appear. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
[Indian PC 1860, s. 174]