Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
BNS Section 186
Prohibition of fictitious stamps
In one line
BNS Section 186 deals with prohibition of fictitious stamps and replaces IPC 263A.
Punishment, bail and court
| Section | Offence | Punishment | Cognizable | Bailable | Triable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 186 | Fictitious stamps. | Fine of 200 rupees. | Cognizable. | Bailable. | Any Magistrate. |
Source: First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The punishment column is the Schedule’s summary; the section text below is what prescribes the punishment. Classification decides procedure (arrest, bail as of right, which court), not the result of any particular case.
Bare act text — BNS 186
186. Prohibition of fictitious stamps.
(1) Whoever— (a) makes, knowingly utters, deals in or sells any fictitious stamp, or knowingly uses for any postal purpose any fictitious stamp; or (b) has in his possession, without lawful excuse, any fictitious stamp; or (c) makes or, without lawful excuse, has in his possession any die, plate, instrument or materials for making any fictitious stamp, shall be punished with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees.
(2) Any such stamp, die, plate, instrument or materials in the possession of any person for making any fictitious stamp may be seized and, if seized shall be forfeited.
(3) In this section “fictitious stamp” means any stamp falsely purporting to be issued by Government for the purpose of denoting a rate of postage, or any facsimile or imitation or representation, whether on paper or otherwise, of any stamp issued by Government for that purpose.
(4) In this section and also in sections 178 to 181 (both inclusive), and sections 183 to 185 (both inclusive) the word “Government”, when used in connection with, or in reference to any stamp issued for the purpose of denoting a rate of postage, shall, notwithstanding anything in clause (12) of section 2, be deemed to include the person or persons authorised by law to administer executive Government in any part of India or in any foreign country.
What changed from the IPC
- IPC 263A → BNS 186: Words "'and also in any part of Her Majesty's dominions" are excluded.
Frequently asked
What was BNS Section 186 in the IPC?
BNS Section 186 (Prohibition of fictitious stamps) replaces Section 263A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. IPC 263A is now BNS 186.
What is the punishment under BNS 186?
Fictitious stamps – punishable with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees. Under the First Schedule to the BNSS, 2023 it is cognizable and bailable, triable by any Magistrate.
Is BNS 186 bailable?
Bailable: BNS 186. Bail in a non-bailable offence is at the court's discretion; the classification decides procedure, not the outcome of a particular bail application.
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Nearby BNS sections
- BNS 181 — Making or possessing instruments or materials for forging or counterfeiting coin, Government stamp, currency-notes or bank-notes
- BNS 182 — Making or using documents resembling currency-notes or bank-notes
- BNS 183 — Effacing writing from substance bearing Government stamp, or removing from document a stamp used for it, with intent to cause loss to Government
- BNS 184 — Using Government stamp known to have been before used
- BNS 185 — Erasure of mark denoting that stamp has been used
- BNS 187 — Person employed in mint causing coin to be of different weight or composition from that fixed by law
- BNS 188 — Unlawfully taking coining instrument from mint
- BNS 189 — Unlawful assembly
- BNS 190 — Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object
- BNS 191 — Rioting