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Section 234: Knowingly Issuing or Signing False Certificate

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita • Chapter XII: Of Contempts of Lawful Authority of Public Servants • Official Statutory Text & Legal Guide

Chapter XII: Of Contempts of Lawful Authority of Public Servants
Court by which offence triable
Bailable
Non-Cognizable
Formerly Sec 197 IPC
Section 233 All 358 Sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 235

Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 234

Section 234 punishes issuing or signing any false certificate relating to any fact of which such certificate is required by law to be given or signed, knowing it to be false in any material point.

  • Statutory Certificate: A certificate required by law to be given or signed, or admissible in evidence of any fact.
  • Signing or Issuing: The accused signs, certifies, or issues the certificate.
  • Knowledge of Falsehood: The certificate is false in a material particular to the knowledge of the issuer.
Key Landmark Precedents:
  • Dr. M.C. Sharma v. State of Rajasthan (1993) Supp 3 SCC 350: Medical officers issuing fabricated injury certificates or ante-dated post-mortem reports commit a direct offence under this provision.
  • Sanjiv Kumar v. State of Haryana (2005) 5 SCC 511: Held that issuing false fitness or character certificates to facilitate judicial bail or government employment undermines administrative integrity.
Courtroom Practice & Strategic Litigation Guidance:

When cross-examining medical or public certifiers, cross-reference the clinical OPD register or raw test logs. Any direct contradiction with the certificate establishes a Section 234 violation.

Section 233 All 358 Sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 235