IPC Section 141

BNS Section 189— Unlawful assembly

Effective for any FIR, charge sheet, or filing on or after 1 July 2024. Matters that arose before that date continue under the IPC.

This section defines 'unlawful assembly' as a gathering of five or more persons with a common object falling within specified categories of coercive or criminal purpose, and creates multiple graduated offences for membership, armed membership, refusal to disperse, hiring/harbouring members, and going armed for hire. Penalties range from six months to two years depending on the specific sub-offence.

Punishment

Sub-section (2): Imprisonment of either description up to six months, or fine, or both. Sub-section (3): Imprisonment of either description up to two years, or fine, or both. Sub-section (4): Imprisonment of either description up to two years, or fine, or both. Sub-section (5): Imprisonment of either description up to six months, or fine, or both. Sub-section (7): Imprisonment of either description up to six months, or fine, or both. Sub-section (8): Imprisonment of either description up to six months, or fine, or both. Sub-section (9): Imprisonment of either description up to two years, or fine, or both.

Triable by

Magistrate of First Class

Cognizable

Yes

Bailable

Yes