This law applies to any government employee for any document.

It only applies to a public servant who is officially charged with preparing or translating that specific document or electronic record.

An honest mistake or typo by an official can be punished under this section.

The law requires that the official knew or believed the document was incorrect and intended, or knew it was likely, to cause injury — genuine errors without such intent or knowledge are not covered.

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Section 201

Public servant framing an incorrect document with intent to cause injury

Whoever, being a public servant, and being, as such public servant, charged with the preparation or translation of any document or electronic record, frames, prepares or translates that document or electronic record in a manner which he knows or believes to be incorrect, intending thereby to cause or knowing it to be likely that he may thereby cause injury to any person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.§

Why this exists

This provision continues the approach of Section 167 of the old Indian Penal Code, 1860, carried forward into the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Public records and official documents (land records, court papers, government orders, translations of evidence, etc.) are trusted because officials are expected to prepare them accurately. The law exists to deter corrupt or careless officials from deliberately distorting such documents to cause harm to citizens, protecting the integrity of public administration and the rights of people who rely on official records.

Common misconceptions

Myth: This law applies to any government employee for any document.
Fact: It only applies to a public servant who is officially charged with preparing or translating that specific document or electronic record.
Myth: An honest mistake or typo by an official can be punished under this section.
Fact: The law requires that the official knew or believed the document was incorrect and intended, or knew it was likely, to cause injury — genuine errors without such intent or knowledge are not covered.