Penalty for Harbouring Robbers or Dacoits: Section 254 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Section 254, enacts punishment for sheltering robbers or dacoits with the intention of discouraging the encouragement of such criminals. It mandates severe imprisonment for seven years with a fine on any person knowingly harbouring persons intending or having committed robbery or dacoity with the intention of assisting their offence or protecting them from punishment. The legislation comes into play regardless of where the offence is committed, be it in or out of India, except in the case of spouses. This provision bolsters India’s criminal justice system in place of the Indian Penal Code and calls for tighter enforcement of organized crime. Keywords: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Section 254, harbouring, robbers, dacoits, penalty, imprisonment, criminal justice, India, organized crime.
