Whoever, being bound by law to render or furnish assistance to any public servant in the execution of his public duty, intentionally omits to give such assistance, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to $1,000, or with both; and if such assistance is demanded of him by a public servant legally competent to make such demand for the purposes of executing any process lawfully issued by a court of justice, or of preventing the commission of an offence, or of suppressing a riot or an affray, or of apprehending a person charged with or guilty of an offence, or of having escaped from lawful custody, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 6 months, or with fine which may extend to $2,500, or with both.
Section history
Section 187 — Omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give assistance
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.
[Indian PC 1860, s. 187]