Library/BNS/Section 16
Section 16Substantive

Act done pursuant to the judgment or order of Court

Full Text

16. Act done pursuant to the judgment or order of Court.

Nothing which is done in pursuance of, or which is warranted by the judgment or order of, a Court; if done whilst such judgment or order remains in force, is an offence, notwithstanding the Court may have had no jurisdiction to pass such judgment or order, provided the person doing the act in good faith believes that the Court had such jurisdiction.

Plain English Summary

This section protects persons executing court judgments or orders from criminal liability, even if the court lacked jurisdiction, provided they acted in good faith.

Key Legal Elements

  • The act must be done in pursuance of, or warranted by, a judgment or order of a Court.
  • The judgment or order must be in force at the time of the act.
  • Protects the doer even if the Court lacked jurisdiction, provided the doer believed in good faith that the Court had jurisdiction.

Practical Note

This replaces IPC Section 78. It protects court officers, process servers, and executioners from prosecution for executing orders that may later be found to be ultra vires.

हिंदी पाठ

16. न्यायालय के निर्णय या आदेश के अनुसरण में किया गया कार्य।

कोई बात जो न्यायालय के निर्णय या आदेश के अनुसरण में की जाए, या जिसके लिए वह निर्णय या आदेश प्राधिकृत करता हो, यदि वह उस निर्णय या आदेश के लागू रहने के दौरान की जाए, तो वह अपराध नहीं है, भले ही उस न्यायालय को ऐसा निर्णय या आदेश देने का अधिकार क्षेत्र न रहा हो, बशर्ते कि वह कार्य करने वाला व्यक्ति सद्भावपूर्वक विश्वास करता हो कि न्यायालय को ऐसा अधिकार क्षेत्र प्राप्त था।