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Section history

Section 217 — Public servant disobeying a direction of law with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture

As in force on 30 November 2008.

Timeline 3 versions
  1. 30 March 1987 Enacted
  2. 30 November 2008 Revised edition
  3. 17 August 2026 Latest
Revised edition in force 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.

217.Public servant disobeying a direction of law with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture

Whoever, being a public servant, knowingly disobeys any direction of the law as to the way in which he is to conduct himself as such public servant, intending thereby to save, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby save, any person from legal punishment, or subject him to a lesser punishment than that to which he is liable, or with intent to save, or knowing that he is likely thereby to save, any property from forfeiture or any charge to which it is liable by law, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 2 years, or with fine, or with both.

[Indian PC 1860, s. 217]