The Indian Penal Code (IPC), a comprehensive code, defines various offences and crimes, prescribes appropriate punishments. It was adopted in 1860, prepared by the First Law Commission.
Section -188 of IPC deals with offences committed by individuals or groups by displaying disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant in the public interest.
Why is IPC Section 188 in the News?
Recently, it has been in the news due to the violations of lockdown orders during COVID-19 and, on several occasions, the non-adherence on the part of the offenders to the guidelines issued under various other statutes during this phase. Further, those violating the lockdown orders faced legal action under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, which laid down punishment as per Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, for flouting such orders.
In this article, we shall be discussing various aspects of this issue, along with the debates surrounding it. Further, this article covers other important dimensions, keeping in mind the demands of the Preliminary as well as the Main Examination of the UPSC IAS Exam.
What is Section 188 of the IPC?
- Section 188, which comes under the Indian Penal Code’s Chapter X, ‘Of Contempts of the Lawful Authority of Public Servants’, deals with “Disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant.
- Whoever, knowing that, by an order promulgated by a public servant lawfully empowered to promulgate such order, he is directed to abstain from a certain act or to take certain order with certain property in his possession or under his management, disobeys such direction, shall, if such disobedience causes or tends to cause obstruction, annoyance or injury, or risk of obstruction, annoyance or injury, to any persons lawfully employed, be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both.
- If such disobedience causes or tends to cause danger to human life, health or safety, or causes or tends to cause a riot or affray, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
It is not necessary that the offender should intend to produce harm, or contemplate his disobedience is likely to produce harm. It is sufficient that he knows of the order which he disobeys, and that his disobedience produces, or is likely to produce, harm.
An order is promulgated by a public servant lawfully empowered to promulgate such an order, directing that a religious procession shall not pass down a certain street. Person ‘A’ knowingly disobeys the order and thereby causes danger of riot. Person ‘A’ has committed the offence defined in this section.
- According to the First Schedule of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) both offences are cognizable, bailable, and can be tried by any magistrate.
What are the circumstances in which Section 188 IPC can be invoked?
- To be punishable under Sec. 188, the order has to be for public purposes by public functionaries. An order made in a civil suit between two parties does not fall under this section.
- An order commanding an assembly of five or more persons to disperse is held to be a valid order under Section 188.
- There must be evidence that the accused had knowledge of the order with the disobedience of which he is charged.
- Mere proof of a general notification promulgating the order does not satisfy the requirements of the section.
- Mere disobedience of the order does not constitute an offence in itself, it must be shown that the disobedience has or tends to a certain consequence.
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How FIRs are registered for violating section 188 of IPC?
- The offence is broadly divided into two categories –
- Cases in which FIR is registered under Section 188 and also under Section 269 and 270 of IPC.
- Cases that are registered only under Section 188 of IPC.
- In the first case, the police can omit the investigation under Section 188 of IPC before filing the charge sheet in a competent court, but the charge sheet can be filed for the other offences.
- When an FIR has been registered only under Section 188 of IPC, the police have to drop the case and file a complaint in the competent court.
However, the challenge during difficult times, such as lockdown, lies in getting a written complaint from the concerned public servant if there is a violation of Section 188 of IPC.
What are the procedures followed under Section 188 of the IPC?
- The police have the power to arrest the person without a warrant, register an FIR under Section 154 of the CrPC, initiate the investigation into the offence.
- After the completion of the investigation, police can proceed to file a police report under Section 173 of the CrPC.
- Based on this, the court initiates the trial and takes cognizance of the offence.
- Under Section 195 (1)(a) of the CrPC, the court can take cognizance of the offence punishable under Section 172 to 188 of the IPC if there is an existing written complaint of the public servant concerned or his superior.
- In the case of Jeevanandham v. State, 2018 the Madras High Court held that it is mandatory to follow the procedure of Section 195 of CrPC to prosecute an accused of an offence under Section 188 of IPC, and in its absence, such action would be rendered void, null and legally ineffective.
- There must be a complaint by the public servant whose lawful order has not been complied with.
- The power of police officials is limited to preventive action.
- He/she has to inform the concerned public servant to enable him/her to proceed with the complaint before the Court.
As law-abiding citizens, it is their responsibility to follow the directives issued by a competent authority in the larger public interest. The law of the land has to be in tune with the demands of the changing times. At times, there may be a conflict between two provisions of law. It is important to place the broader intention of the legislature while interpreting the procedural law. Similarly, the rules and procedures established by law need to reach the common man, and the role of civil society in this endeavour is paramount
In these times of difficulty, such as a lockdown or natural calamities or law and order issues, citizens must cooperate with the law enforcement agencies to maintain public order and peace. Further, due grievances of the affected citizens must be addressed. The procedural and infrastructural challenges confronting the implementing agencies must be addressed to facilitate the process of ensuring justice.
This article is relevant for the Polity section of the UPSC syllabus prescribed for the Preliminary and Main Examination of Civil Services Exam.
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Sheria ya Uhalifu ya India (IPC) ni sheria ya jumla ambayo inatoa sheria za uhalifu na adhabu zinazofaa. Sheria hiyo ilitolewa mwaka 1860 na Tume ya Kwanza ya Sheria. "Sehemu ya 188 ya sheria ya India inazungumzia makosa yaliyofanywa na watu binafsi au vikundi kwa kuonyesha kutotii amri iliyotolewa na mfanyakazi wa umma kwa maslahi ya umma.""" Kwa nini IPC Section 188 inapatikana katika habari? Hivi karibuni, imekuwa katika habari kwa sababu ya ukiukaji wa amri za kufungwa wakati wa COVID-19 na, mara kadhaa, kutofuata kwa upande wa wahalifu kwa miongozo iliyotolewa chini ya sheria zingine mbalimbali wakati wa awamu hii. "Kupitia sheria ya ""epidemic diseases"" ya mwaka 1897, sheria hiyo inatoa adhabu ya kifungu cha 188 cha sheria ya adhabu ya India ya mwaka 1860 kwa wale wanaovunja sheria hizo." Katika makala hii, tutazungumzia mambo mbalimbali kuhusu suala hilo, pamoja na mabishano yanayolizunguka. Kwa kuongezea, makala hii inashughulikia vipimo vingine muhimu, ikizingatia mahitaji ya Preliminary na vilevile Mtihani Mkuu wa Mtihani wa UPSC IAS. "Kifungu cha 188 cha IPC kina maana gani?""" "Sehemu ya 188 ya Sheria ya Uhalifu ya India, Sura ya X, ""Ukatili wa Mamlaka ya Sheria ya Watumishi wa Umma,"" inahusu ""Kukataa kutii amri iliyotolewa na mtumishi wa umma.""" "Mtu yeyote, akijua kwamba kwa amri iliyotolewa na mtumishi wa umma aliye na mamlaka ya kisheria ya kutangaza amri hiyo, ameamriwa kujiepusha na tendo fulani au kuchukua amri fulani na mali fulani katika milki yake au chini ya usimamizi wake, na asiitii amri hiyo, lazima, ikiwa kutotii kama hiyo husababisha au huelekea kusababisha kizuizi, usumbufu au jeraha, au hatari ya kizuizi, usumbufu au jeraha, kwa watu wowote waliowekwa kazi kisheria, adhabu ya kifungo cha kifungo cha muda wa mwezi mmoja au faini ya rupia mia mbili au zote mbili. """ - Kama uasi huo husababisha au huelekea kusababisha hatari kwa maisha ya binadamu, afya au usalama, au husababisha au huelekea kusababisha ghasia au ghasia, ataadhibiwa kwa kifungo cha kifungo cha aina yoyote kwa muda ambao unaweza kupanuka hadi miezi sita, au faini ambayo inaweza kupanuka hadi rupees elfu moja, au na wote wawili. Haipaswi kuwa na nia ya kusababisha madhara, au kufikiria kwamba kutotii kwake kunaweza kusababisha madhara. Inatosha kwamba anajua amri ambayo yeye disobeys, na kwamba disobedience yake inazalisha, au ni uwezekano wa kuzalisha, madhara. Amri inatangazwa na mtumishi wa umma aliye na mamlaka ya kisheria kutangaza amri kama hiyo, akielekeza kwamba msafara wa kidini haupaswi kupita barabarani fulani. Mtu <unk>A<unk> anajua kupinga amri na hivyo husababisha hatari ya ghasia. Mtu <unk>A<unk> amefanya kosa lililofafanuliwa katika sehemu hii. Kulingana na orodha ya kwanza ya Sheria ya Utaratibu wa Jinai (CrPC), makosa yote mawili ni ya kutambua, ya kujilinda, na yanaweza kusikilizwa na mahakimu wowote. Ni nini kinachohusika katika matumizi ya kifungu cha 188 cha IPC? - Kuwa na adhabu chini ya Sek. 188, amri lazima iwe kwa madhumuni ya umma na maafisa wa umma. Amri iliyotolewa katika kesi ya kiraia kati ya pande mbili haifai chini ya sehemu hii. Amri ya kuamuru mkutano wa watu watano au zaidi kutawanyika ni amri halali chini ya kifungu cha 188. - Lazima kuwe na ushahidi kwamba mshtakiwa alikuwa na maarifa ya amri ambayo yeye ni kushtakiwa kwa kutotii. - Uthibitisho tu wa taarifa ya jumla ya kutangaza amri haitoshi mahitaji ya sehemu. - Uasi tu wa amri si kitendo cha uhalifu yenyewe, ni lazima ionyeshwe kwamba uasi huo una au unaelekea matokeo fulani. "Wanafunzi wa UPSC wanaweza kuandaa kwa kutumia viungo vifuatavyo: ""Jinsi FIRs ni kusajiliwa kwa ajili ya kukiuka kifungu 188 IPC.""" "Kuna aina mbili za makosa ya jinai: ""kosa la kwanza"" (FIR) na ""kosa la kwanza"" (FIR) chini ya kifungu cha 188 na kifungu cha 269 na 270 cha IPC." - Kesi ambazo zimesajiliwa tu chini ya kifungu cha 188 cha IPC. Katika kesi ya kwanza, polisi wanaweza kuondoa uchunguzi chini ya kifungu cha 188 cha IPC kabla ya kufungua karatasi ya mashtaka katika mahakama yenye mamlaka, lakini karatasi ya mashtaka inaweza kufunguliwa kwa makosa mengine. "Kama kuna kesi ya ""FIR"" chini ya kifungu cha 188 cha sheria ya India, polisi wanapaswa kuondoa kesi na kuwasilisha malalamiko katika mahakama husika." "Hata hivyo, changamoto wakati wa nyakati ngumu, kama vile kufungwa, iko katika kupata malalamiko ya maandishi kutoka kwa mtumishi wa umma anayehusika ikiwa kuna ukiukaji wa kifungu cha 188 cha IPC. """ Ni nini kinachohusika katika sheria ya IPC ya 188? Polisi wana mamlaka ya kumkamata mtu bila kibali, kusajili FIR chini ya kifungu cha 154 cha CRPC, na kuanzisha uchunguzi wa kosa hilo. Baada ya uchunguzi kukamilika, polisi wanaweza kuendelea na ripoti ya polisi chini ya kifungu cha 173 cha CRPC. - Kwa msingi wa hili, mahakama huanzisha kesi na kutambua kosa hilo. "Katika kifungu cha 195 (1) (a) cha Sheria ya Uhalifu ya Kiraia, mahakama inaweza kuchukua taarifa ya kosa linaloweza kuadhibiwa chini ya kifungu cha 172 hadi 188 cha Sheria ya Uhalifu ya Kiraia ikiwa kuna malalamiko ya maandishi ya mtumishi wa umma anayehusika au msimamizi wake. """ Katika kesi ya Jeevanandham v. State, 2018 Mahakama ya Juu ya Madras ilisema kuwa ni lazima kufuata utaratibu wa kifungu cha 195 cha ICC ili kumshtaki mshtakiwa wa kosa chini ya kifungu cha 188 cha IPC, na katika kutokuwepo kwake, hatua kama hiyo itakuwa tupu, tupu na isiyo na athari kisheria. - Lazima kuwe na malalamiko kutoka kwa mtumishi wa umma ambaye amri ya kisheria haijafuatwa. - Mamlaka ya maafisa wa polisi ni mdogo kwa hatua ya kuzuia. - Yeye lazima kumjulisha mfanyakazi wa umma anayehusika ili kumwezesha kuendelea na malalamiko mbele ya Mahakama. Kama raia wanaoshika sheria, ni jukumu lao kufuata maagizo yaliyotolewa na mamlaka yenye mamlaka kwa maslahi makubwa ya umma. Sheria ya nchi lazima ipatane na mahitaji ya nyakati zinazobadilika. Nyakati nyingine, huenda kukawa na mgogoro kati ya masharti mawili ya sheria. Ni muhimu kuweka nia pana ya wabunge wakati wa kutafsiri sheria ya utaratibu. """Kama ilivyo, sheria na taratibu zilizowekwa na sheria zinahitaji kufikia mtu wa kawaida, na jukumu la jamii ya kiraia katika juhudi hii ni muhimu sana katika nyakati hizi za ugumu, kama vile kufungwa au maafa ya asili au masuala ya sheria na utaratibu, raia lazima washirikiane na mashirika ya kutekeleza sheria ili kudumisha utaratibu wa umma na amani.""" Zaidi ya hayo, malalamiko ya haki ya wananchi walioathiriwa lazima yatuliwe. Matatizo ya utaratibu na miundombinu yanayokabili mashirika ya utekelezaji lazima yatuliwe ili kuwezesha mchakato wa kuhakikisha haki. Mafunzo haya yanafaa kwa sehemu ya siasa ya mtaala wa UPSC uliopendekezwa kwa mtihani wa awali na kuu wa mtihani wa huduma za umma. """Utaratibu wa sheria za kisheria na sheria za kisheria"" - Utaratibu wa sheria za kisheria na sheria za kisheria na sheria za kisheria."