Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Section 337 BNS: Forgery of Record of Court or Public Register, etc.

Section 337 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 punishes forgery of specified public, judicial and official documents and electronic records, including Court records, Government identity documents, public registers, official certificates, litigation authorities and powers of attorney.

Current legal position: The offence is punishable with imprisonment of either description up to seven years and fine. Under the BNSS First Schedule, it is non-cognizable, non-bailable and triable by a Magistrate of the first class.

Documents and Records Covered by Section 337 BNS

  • a record or proceeding of or in a Court;
  • a Government-issued identity document, including voter identity card or Aadhaar Card;
  • a register of birth, marriage or burial;
  • a register kept by a public servant in that capacity;
  • a certificate or document purporting to be made by a public servant in official capacity;
  • an authority to institute or defend a suit;
  • an authority to take proceedings in a suit;
  • an authority to confess judgment; and
  • a power of attorney.

The section applies to both documents and electronic records where the statutory description is satisfied.

Essential Ingredients of Section 337

  1. there must be a forged document or forged electronic record;
  2. the document or electronic record must purport to be one of the specified public, judicial or official records or instruments listed in Section 337; and
  3. the underlying act must satisfy the forgery framework under Sections 335 and 336 BNS.

Electronic Registers and Records

The Explanation to Section 337 states that the word "register" includes any list, data or record of entries maintained in electronic form as defined in Section 2(1)(r) of the Information Technology Act, 2000.

This makes the provision expressly applicable to qualifying electronic public registers and data records, not only paper registers.

Punishment, Cognizability, Bail and Trial Court

Provision Punishment Cognizable Bailable Trial court
Section 337 BNS Imprisonment of either description up to 7 years and fine No No Magistrate of the first class

Relationship With Sections 335 and 336 BNS

Section 335 BNS explains when a false document or false electronic record is made. Section 336 BNS defines forgery and prescribes the general and aggravated punishments for forgery.

Section 337 is a special aggravated provision for forgery where the forged item falls within the specified classes of judicial, public or official records and instruments.

Official Legal Sources

For authoritative statutory wording and procedural classification, consult India Code, NCRB and Ministry of Home Affairs resources listed in the right sidebar.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the punishment under Section 337 BNS?

Imprisonment of either description up to seven years and fine.

Is Section 337 BNS bailable?

No. It is non-bailable.

Is Section 337 cognizable?

No. The BNSS First Schedule classifies it as non-cognizable.

Does Section 337 cover Aadhaar and voter ID?

Yes. The statutory text expressly includes Government-issued identity documents, including voter identity cards and Aadhaar Cards.

Does Section 337 cover electronic public registers?

Yes. The Explanation expressly includes lists, data and records of entries maintained in electronic form.

This page provides general legal information. Whether a particular document or electronic record falls within Section 337 depends on its legal character, the alleged act of forgery and the evidence in the case.