You must sign any document a police officer gives you, even if it's not your own statement.

This law only applies to a statement you yourself made, not to other documents or confessions written by someone else.

Refusing to sign always leads to jail time.

The punishment is discretionary and can be as little as a fine; courts consider the reason for refusal and whether the public servant had legal authority to demand the signature.

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 180

repealed

Refusing to sign statement

Whoever refuses to sign any statement made by him, when required to sign that statement by a public servant legally competent to require that he shall sign that statement, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both.§

Why this exists

This provision is part of a group of IPC sections (172-190) dealing with offences against public justice and obstruction of public servants. It ensures that statements recorded by police, magistrates, or other officials during investigations or legal proceedings are authenticated by the signature of the person who made them, so that records remain reliable and cannot be denied later. Refusing to sign a duly made statement could disrupt investigations or legal processes, so the law creates a mild deterrent.

How courts read it

Courts have generally read this section narrowly and in conjunction with other procedural safeguards, such as the caution against compelling an accused to sign statements that could amount to self-incrimination under Article 20(3) of the Constitution. Judicial interpretation emphasizes that the public servant demanding the signature must have specific legal authority to do so; if such authority is absent, refusal to sign does not attract this section. There are no landmark Supreme Court judgments specifically interpreting Section 180 in isolation, as it is rarely invoked and often considered alongside Sections 179 and 181.

Common misconceptions

Myth: You must sign any document a police officer gives you, even if it's not your own statement.
Fact: This law only applies to a statement you yourself made, not to other documents or confessions written by someone else.
Myth: Refusing to sign always leads to jail time.
Fact: The punishment is discretionary and can be as little as a fine; courts consider the reason for refusal and whether the public servant had legal authority to demand the signature.