Section 207 of BNS : Section 207: Preventing service of summons or other proceeding, or preventing publication thereof.

Explanation using Example

Example 1:

Ravi receives a court summons at his home, requiring him to appear in court as a witness in a criminal case. Fearing the consequences of his testimony, Ravi intentionally tears up the summons and throws it away, hoping to avoid appearing in court. By doing this, Ravi is preventing the service of a summons issued by a legally competent public servant. Under Section 207 of The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Ravi can be punished with simple imprisonment for up to one month, a fine of up to five thousand rupees, or both.

Example 2:

Priya is a business owner who receives a notice from the municipal corporation to attend a hearing regarding a zoning violation at her shop. Priya, not wanting to deal with the legal hassle, instructs her employees to remove the notice from the shop's entrance and discard it. By intentionally removing the notice, Priya is preventing the lawful affixing of a notice issued by a legally competent public servant. According to Section 207 of The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023, Priya can be punished with simple imprisonment for up to one month, a fine of up to five thousand rupees, or both.

Example 3:

Ajay is served with a court order to produce certain financial documents in a civil lawsuit. Instead of complying, Ajay hides the documents and tells the process server that he never received any such order. By intentionally preventing the service of an order to produce documents in court, Ajay is violating Section 207 of The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023. He can be punished with simple imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of up to ten thousand rupees, or both.

Example 4:

Sunita is aware that a public proclamation is going to be made in her neighborhood regarding a public meeting to discuss a new development project. She believes the project will negatively impact her property value, so she disrupts the public servant making the proclamation by creating a loud disturbance and preventing the announcement from being heard. By intentionally preventing the lawful making of a proclamation, Sunita is in violation of Section 207 of The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023. She can be punished with simple imprisonment for up to one month, a fine of up to five thousand rupees, or both.