Section 267 BNS: Intentional Insult or Interruption to Public Servant in Judicial Proceeding (Formerly Section 228 (Contempt of Lawful Court Authority) IPC)

Section 267: Intentional Insult or Interruption to Public Servant in Judicial Proceeding

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 in which offence committed / Any Magistrate

Bailable

Non-Cognizable

Formerly Sec 228 IPC (Contempt of Lawful Court Authority)

Section 267 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita: Intentional Insult or Interruption to Public Servant in Judicial Proceeding

Official Bare Act Text

Override / Mandate Mens Rea (Intent) Actus Reus (Conduct) Punishment Limitation Monetary

Whoever, intentionally offers any insult, or causes any interruption to any public servant, while such public servant is sitting in any stage of a judicial proceeding, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both.

Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 267

Section 267 penalises intentionally offering any insult or causing any interruption to any public servant while such public servant is sitting in any stage of a judicial proceeding (the primary in facie curiae contempt section).

Judicial Proceeding: Public servant (judge, magistrate, registrar) actively presiding over a judicial proceeding.
Overt Insult or Interruption: Hurling abuse, shouting, throwing missiles, or aggressively disrupting the hearing.
Intentional Disrespect: Calculated to lower judicial dignity or interrupt the court's proceedings.

Key Landmark Precedents:

In Re: Vinay Chandra Mishra (1995) 2 SCC 584: The Supreme Court ruled that threatening judges or creating bedlam inside the courtroom constitutes contempt in face of court, punishable summarily under summary penal procedures.
Bar Council of Maharashtra v. M.V. Dabholkar (1976) 2 SCC 291: Observed that advocates have a professional and legal duty to preserve court decorum; unruly conduct inside court is strictly punishable.

Courtroom Practice & Strategic Litigation Guidance:

The presiding judge may take summary cognizance under Section 384 BNSS (old Section 345 CrPC) on the same day before court rises, or record the facts and forward the case to a magistrate.