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IPC 1860REPEALED

Section 194-210

False Evidence: Giving False Evidence to Procure Conviction; Threatening Witness; Wrongful Confinement to Extort Confession; Making False Statement in Declaration; Using Evidence Known to be False; Issuing False Certificate; Making False Return; Counterfeiting Device for Authenticating Documents; False Personation in Suit

Replaced by: BNS 229-247

Bailable / Non-Bailable (varies)Cognizable: Non-Cognizable / CognizableMagistrate / Court of Session
THE STATUTE

Original Text

Section 194: Whoever gives or fabricates false evidence, intending thereby to cause, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby cause, any person to be convicted of an offence which is capital by the law in force in India, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine; and if an innocent person be convicted and executed in consequence of such false evidence, the person who gives such false evidence shall be punished either with death or the punishment hereinbefore described. Section 195A: Whoever threatens another with any injury to his person, reputation or property or to the person or reputation of any one in whom that person is interested, with intent to cause that person to give false evidence shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, or with fine, or with both...

Simplified

Sections 194–210 address the most serious forms of false evidence — where the falsehood is designed to cause wrongful conviction or to pervert justice in specific institutional contexts. Section 194 is the apex: giving false evidence to procure a conviction for a capital offence (murder) carries life imprisonment — and if an innocent person is actually convicted and executed, the person who gave false evidence faces the death penalty. This is one of the IPC's most dramatic provisions, reflecting the ultimate injustice of executing an innocent person through deliberate false testimony. Section 195A (threatening a witness to give false evidence — added 2006) carries up to 7 years, addressing the increasing problem of witness intimidation in high-profile cases. Section 195B (witness bribery) complements this. Sections 196–204 address other forms of evidence fraud: using evidence known to be false, issuing false certificates, and making false returns by public servants.

Legal Evolution

Sections 194-210 constitute the IPC's comprehensive scheme against false evidence, perjury, and related offences, including false personation before courts and giving false information to public servants. The drafters recognized that the integrity of the justice system depended fundamentally on truthful testimony and records. The elaborate penalty structure — based on the tribunal before which false evidence is given and the consequences of the false testimony — reflects the seriousness with which perjury was treated in both English and Indian legal traditions.

Landmark Precedents

In Re: Suo Moto Proceedings Against R. Karuppan (2001)

2002 Cri LJ 1224
RELEVANCE

Supreme Court described perjury and false evidence as a 'scourge' eroding the justice system — called for more active use of Section 193–195 provisions.

Practical Scenarios

"A witness who lies in a murder trial to protect the real killer — Section 194 (up to life), potentially death penalty if the innocent accused is executed."
"A person who calls a key witness and says 'change your statement or I'll hurt your family' — Section 195A (up to 7 years)."

Common Queries

Section 194 provides for the death penalty — the person who gave false evidence faces the same punishment as if they had committed the murder themselves. This is one of the IPC's most severe individual provisions.
Yes — Section 195A (added 2006) punishes threatening a witness to give false evidence with up to 7 years imprisonment.