Library/BNS/Section 268
Section 268BailablePenal

Personation of an assessor

Full Text

Whoever, by personation or otherwise, shall intentionally cause, or knowingly suffer himself to be returned, empanelled or sworn as an assessor in any case in which he knows that he is not entitled by law to be so returned, empanelled or sworn, or knowing himself to have been so returned, empanelled or sworn contrary to law, shall voluntarily serve as such assessor, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

Plain English Summary

Punishes anyone who fraudulently personates or falsely represents themselves to serve as an assessor in a court case, knowing they are not legally entitled to do so.

Key Legal Elements

  • The accused must have caused themselves to be empanelled, returned or sworn as an assessor, or served as one.
  • The accused must have done so by personation or other unauthorized means.
  • The accused must have acted intentionally and with knowledge that they were not legally entitled to serve in that capacity.

Punishment

Imprisonment of either description up to 2 years, or fine, or both.

Practical Note

This section penalizes the unauthorized service or fraudulent representation as an assessor. While the jury system is abolished in India, assessors are still utilized in highly specific tribunals or maritime/technical cases. The offense is non-cognizable and bailable, triable by a Magistrate of the first class.

हिंदी पाठ

जो कोई, प्रतिरूपण द्वारा या अन्यथा, किसी मामले में जानबूझकर अपने को असेसर के रूप में सूचीबद्ध, नामनिर्देशित या शपथ ग्रहण कराया जाना कारित करेगा, यह जानते हुए कि वह कानूनन इस प्रकार सूचीबद्ध, नामनिर्देशित या शपथ ग्रहण कराए जाने का हकदार नहीं है, या यह जानते हुए कि उसे कानून के विपरीत इस प्रकार सूचीबद्ध, नामनिर्देशित या शपथ ग्रहण कराया गया है, स्वेच्छा से असेसर के रूप में कार्य करेगा, वह दोनों में से किसी भांति के कारावास से, जिसकी अवधि दो वर्ष तक की हो सकेगी, या जुर्माने से, या दोनों से, दंडित किया जाएगा।