Section 337 BNS
Section 337 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) pertains to the forgery of court records and public registers. This section is part of Chapter XVIII, which addresses offences related to documents and property marks.
Definition and Provisions
The section states that:
- Forgery includes creating a false document or electronic record that purports to be an official record from a court or a government-issued identity document (such as a voter ID or Aadhaar card).
- It also covers forgeries of public registers, certificates, or documents that are supposed to be issued by public servants in their official capacity.
Penalties
The punishment for committing forgery under this section can be imprisonment for a term that may extend to seven years, along with a possible fine. The definition of “register” within this context includes any electronic records maintained as per the Information Technology Act, 2000. This section aligns closely with similar provisions in the Indian Penal Code (IPC), reinforcing the legal framework for addressing forgery in India.
What constitutes forgery under Section 337 BNS
Under Section 337 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), forgery includes:
- Creating a false document or electronic record that purports to be a record or proceeding of a court.
- Forging an identity document issued by the government, such as a voter ID card or Aadhaar card.
- Fabricating a register of birth, marriage or burial.
- Manipulating a register kept by a public servant.
- Forging a certificate or document made by a public servant in their official capacity.
- Creating a false authority to institute or defend a suit, take proceedings, confess judgment, or grant power of attorney.
The definition of “register” in this context includes any electronic records maintained under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Punishment for forgery under Section 337 BNS can be imprisonment for up to seven years and a fine. This section significantly expands on the previous Indian Penal Code (IPC) by explicitly including forgery of voter IDs and Aadhaar cards, which can have serious implications for electoral integrity and identity fraud.
Adv Ashish Sharma has dedicated his career to helping individuals and businesses navigate the intricate legal landscape with confidence. From providing expert advice on current legal issues to offering clear explanations of legal principles, he strives to empower his audience with knowledge and understanding.
