This is an offence similar to the offence defined and punished in the following Chapter. The latter Clause of Section 193, appears to include the offence for which the present section provides a punishment. The statement must be, in fact, false, and known or believed to be false, &c., by the person who makes it; and must also be one "touching the subject" regarding which the public servant is authorized by law to administer an oath. The explanation of the word "oath" should be referred to (Section 51.) Where the law substitutes a solemn affirmation or a declaration, the offence consists in the breach of the legal obligation to state the truth which it imposes. False information, with intent to cause a public servant to use of another person. 182. Whoever gives to any public servant any information which he knows or believes to be false, intendhis lawful power to the injury ing thereby to cause, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby cause such public servant to use the lawful power of such public servant to the injury or annoyance of any person, or to do or omit any thing which such public servant ought not to do or omit, if the true state of facts respecting which such information is given were known by him, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thusand Rupees, or with both. Illustrations. (a) A informs a Magistrate that Z, a Police Officer, subordinate to such Magistrate, has been guilty of neglect of duty or misconduct, knowing such information to be false, and knowing it to be likely that the information will cause the Magistrate to dismiss Z. A has committed the offence defined in this Section. (b) A falsely informs a public servant that Z has contraband salt in a secret place, knowing such information to be false, and knowing that it is likely that the consequence of the information will be a search of Z's premises, attended with annoyance to Z. A has committed the offence defined in this Section. The wide meaning of the word "injury" should be borne in mind (Section 44.) The intention or knowledge with which the information is given, must determine whether this offence has been committed or not. An honest intention to promote the ends of justice may cause annoyance or injury, but if the informant acts in good faith he will not be punishable for such annoyance or injury. Where the information, however, is false, and is known or believed by the giver to be so, an honest intent can scarcely exist. Resistance to the taking of property by the lawful authority of a public servant. 183. Whoever offers any resistance to the taking of any property by the lawful authority of any public servant, knowing or having reason to believe that he is such public servant, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description, for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand Rupees, or with both. Resistance to the taking is punishable when the taking is by lawful authority. As to the right of private defence of property, and the limitations of the right in the case of an act done by a public servant, or by the direction of a public servant, see Sections 97, 99. a public servant. 184. Whoever intentionally obstructs any sale of Obstructing sale of property property offered for sale by offered for sale by authority of the lawful authority of any public servant as such, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to five hundred Rupees, or with both. Notices, &c., such as are sometimes given at public sales by persons having, or claiming in good faith to have, a right or interest in the property to be sold, would not be deemed obstructions. But such notices if clearly not bonâ fide, and merely for the purpose of injuring the sale, might be so. 185. Whoever, at Illegal purchase or bid for property offered for sale by authority of a public servant. any sale of property held by the lawful authority of a public servant as such, purchases or bids for any property on account of any person, whether himself or any other, whom he knows to be under a legal incapacity to purchase that property at that sale, or bids for such property, not intending to perform the obligations under which he lays himself by such bidding, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to two hundred Rupees, or with both. Public servants unlawfully buying or bidding for property are severely punished by Section 169. The offence punishable by the present section, or an offence of the like kind, is punishable by existing Regulations. 186. Whoever voluntarily obstructs any public servant in the discharge of his Obstructing public servant in discharge of his public func- public functions, shall be punished with imprisonment of a term which may extend to fine which may extend to five tions. either description for The obstruction is an offence when it is caused "voluntarily," that is by means intended to cause it, or known to be likely to do so. (See Section 39.) The offences of assaulting or causing hurt to a public servant in the discharge of his duty are punished by Sections 152, 332, 333 and 353. Threatening a public servant, and insulting or interrupting him in a judicial proceeding, are provided for elsewhere. Sections 189 and 228. The obstruction which is here punished may be by any act voluntarily done or omitted in order to hinder the public servant in executing his duty, although such act is not directed against him personally. Omission to assist public servant when bound by law to give assistance. 187. Whoever, being bound by law to render or furnish assistance to any public servant in the execution of his public duty, intentionally omits to give such assistance, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to two hundred Rupees, or with both; and if such assistance be demanded of him by a public servant legally competent to make such demand for the purposes of executing any process lawfully issued by a Court of Justice, or of preventing the commission of an offence, or of suppressing a riot or affray, or of apprehending a person charged with or guilty of an offence, or of having escaped from lawful custody, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred Rupees, or with both. Persons bound to furnish information to public servants are punished for misconduct by Sections 176 and 177, &c. Persons bound to assist public servants come within the provisions of the present section. The offence in all these cases arises from the breach of some legal obligation on the accused person to give his assistance to a public servant. vant. 188. Whoever, knowing that, by an order promulDisobedience to an order duly gated by a public servant lawpromulgated by a public ser- fully empowered to promulgate such order, he is directed to abstain from a certain act, or to take certain order with certain property in his possession or under his management, disobeys such direction, shall, if such disobedience causes or tends to cause obstruction, annoyance, or injury, or risk of obstruction, annoyance, or injury, to any persons lawfully employed, be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine which may extend to two hundred Rupees, or with both; and if such disobedience causes or tends to cause danger to human life, health, or safety, or causes or tends to cause a riot or affray, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand Rupees, or with both. Explanation. It is not necessary that the offender should intend to produce harm, or contemplate his disobedience as likely to produce harm. It is sufficient that he knows of the order which he disobeys, and that his disobodience produces, or is likely to produce harm. Illustration. An order is promulgated by a public servant lawfully empowered to promulgate such order, directing that a religious procession shall not pass down a certain street. A knowingly disobeys the order, and thereby causes danger of riot. A has committed the offence defined in this Section. There are acts which at one time and place are perfectly innocent, and which at another time or place are proper subjects of punishment. It is not always possible for the legislature to say at what time or at what place such acts ought to be punishable. Disobedience to those local authorities who are empowered to forbid such acts, is by this section made punishable as an offence. servant. 189. Whoever holds out any threat of injury to Threat of injury to a public any public servant, or to any person in whom he believes that public servant to be interested, for the purpose of inducing that public servant to do any act, or to forbear or delay to do any act, connected with the exercise of the public functions of such public servant, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. See Sections 186 and 228. As to offences against the person of a public servant, see Sections 152, 332, 333, 353. Threat of injury to induce any person to refrain from ap plying for protection to a public servant. 190. Whoever holds out any threat of injury to any person for the purpose of inducing that person to refrain or desist from making a legal application for protection against any injury to any public servant legally empowered as such to give such protection, or to |