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Section 234: Knowingly Issuing or Signing False Certificate

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 by which offence triable
Bailable
Non-Cognizable
Formerly Sec 197 IPC
Section 233 All 358 Sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 235

BNSS First Schedule Legal Classification

Procedural Trial, Bail & Arrest Mandate under Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
Official BNSS Schedule I
Offence / Provision Statutory Punishment Bail Status Cognizance Trial Jurisdiction Old IPC Equivalent
Section 234 BNS
Knowingly Issuing or Signing False Certificate
 Same punishment as for giving false evidence. Bailable Non-Cognizable Court by which offence triable Formerly Sec 197 IPC
Statutory classification established under the First Schedule of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023. Governs all FIR registrations, bail hearings, and criminal trial jurisdictions in Indian courts.

Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 234

Section 234 punishes issuing or signing any false certificate relating to any fact of which such certificate is required by law to be given or signed, knowing it to be false in any material point.

  • Statutory Certificate: A certificate required by law to be given or signed, or admissible in evidence of any fact.
  • Signing or Issuing: The accused signs, certifies, or issues the certificate.
  • Knowledge of Falsehood: The certificate is false in a material particular to the knowledge of the issuer.
Key Landmark Precedents:
  • Dr. M.C. Sharma v. State of Rajasthan (1993) Supp 3 SCC 350: Medical officers issuing fabricated injury certificates or ante-dated post-mortem reports commit a direct offence under this provision.
  • Sanjiv Kumar v. State of Haryana (2005) 5 SCC 511: Held that issuing false fitness or character certificates to facilitate judicial bail or government employment undermines administrative integrity.
Courtroom Practice & Strategic Litigation Guidance:

When cross-examining medical or public certifiers, cross-reference the clinical OPD register or raw test logs. Any direct contradiction with the certificate establishes a Section 234 violation.

Section 233 All 358 Sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 235