(1) When a Court of Session or Court of a Magistrate of the first class convicts a person of any of the offences specified in sub-section (2) or of abetting any such offence and is of opinion that it is necessary to take security from such person for keeping the peace, the Court may, at the time of passing sentence on such person, order him to execute a bond or bail bond, for keeping the peace for such period, not exceeding three years, as it thinks fit.
(2) The offences referred to in sub-section (1) are—
(a) any offence punishable under Chapter XI of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, other than an offence punishable under sub-section (1) of section 193 or section 196 or section 197 thereof;
(b) any offence which consists of, or includes, assault or using criminal force or committing mischief;
(c) any offence of criminal intimidation;
(d) any other offence which caused, or was intended or known to be likely to cause, a breach of the peace.
(3) If the conviction is set aside on appeal or otherwise, the bond or bail bond so executed shall become void.
(4) An order under this section may also be made by an Appellate Court or by a Court when exercising its powers of revision.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 125
Section 125 of the BNSS, 2023 empowers a Court of Session or Magistrate First Class upon convicting a person of specified offences involving breach of peace to order them to execute a bond for keeping the peace (replacing Section 106 CrPC).
A peace bond under Section 125 can only be ordered at the time of conviction. If the trial court convicts the accused, sentences them, and later passes a separate Section 125 order, the order is ultra vires.