Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
BNS Section 343
Fraudulent cancellation, destruction, etc., of will, authority to adopt, or valuable security
In one line
BNS Section 343 deals with fraudulent cancellation, destruction, etc., of will, authority to adopt, or valuable security and replaces IPC 477.
Punishment, bail and court
| Section | Offence | Punishment | Cognizable | Bailable | Triable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 343 | Fraudulently destroying or defacing, or attempting to destroy or deface, or secreting, a will, etc. | Imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 7 years and fine. | Non-cognizable. | Non-bailable. | Magistrate of the first class. |
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 343
343. Fraudulent cancellation, destruction, etc., of will, authority to adopt, or valuable security.
Whoever fraudulently or dishonestly, or with intent to cause damage or injury to the public or to any person, cancels, destroys or defaces, or attempts to cancel, destroy or deface, or secretes or attempts to secrete any document which is or purports to be a will, or an authority to adopt a son, or any valuable security, or commits mischief in respect of such document, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Frequently asked
What was BNS Section 343 in the IPC?
BNS Section 343 (Fraudulent cancellation, destruction, etc., of will, authority to adopt, or valuable security) replaces Section 477 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. IPC 477 is now BNS 343.
What is the punishment under BNS 343?
Fraudulently destroying or defacing, or attempting to destroy or deface, or secreting, a will, etc – punishable with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine. Under the First Schedule to the BNSS, 2023 it is non-cognizable and non-bailable, triable by magistrate of the first class.
Is BNS 343 bailable?
Non-bailable: BNS 343. 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 338 — Forgery of valuable security, will, etc
- BNS 339 — Having possession of document described in section 337 or section 338, knowing it to be forged and intending to use it as genuine
- BNS 340 — Forged document or electronic record and using it as genuine
- BNS 341 — Making or possessing counterfeit seal, etc., with intent to commit forgery punishable under section 338
- BNS 342 — Counterfeiting device or mark used for authenticating documents described in section 338, or possessing counterfeit marked material
- BNS 344 — Falsification of accounts
- BNS 345 — Property mark
- BNS 346 — Tampering with property mark with intent to cause injury
- BNS 347 — Counterfeiting a property mark
- BNS 348 — Making or possession of any instrument for counterfeiting a property mark