IPC 172 vs BNS 172
● Retained in BNSPublic servant failing to report corruption
Section 172 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, deals with the offence of a public servant knowingly failing to report corruption or illegal acts committed by other officials. This provision ensures accountability within public administration and promotes transparency.
Key points of IPC 172:
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Applies when a public servant is aware of corrupt practices by colleagues and fails to report them.
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Covers both omission and concealment of information related to illegal acts.
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Punishment: imprisonment up to 1 year, or fine, or both.
For example, if a government clerk is aware of a bribe being offered to a superior officer and does not report it, it falls under IPC 172.
This section promotes integrity and accountability among public officials, ensuring that corruption is reported and not ignored.
Public servant failing to report corruption
Section 172 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, mirrors IPC 172. It penalizes public servants who knowingly fail to report corruption or illegal acts by colleagues, reinforcing internal accountability and integrity.
Key points of BNS 172:
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Covers failure to report acts of corruption, bribery, or misconduct by public officials.
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Punishment: up to 1 year imprisonment, or fine, or both.
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Ensures that public servants uphold ethical conduct and do not facilitate corruption through inaction.
For instance, a municipal official aware of fraudulent approval of permits but does not report it can be prosecuted under BNS 172.
This provision strengthens anti-corruption measures, making it mandatory for officials to act against illegal activities within public service.
What changed?
This provision was carried over to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita with substantially the same wording — the section was renumbered from IPC IPC 172 to BNS BNS 172.