Whoever corruptly uses or attempts to use any such certificate as a true certificate, knowing the same to be false in any material point, shall be punished in the same manner as if he gave false evidence.
IPC Section 198: Simplified Explanation
IPC Section 198 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) deals with the offence of using as genuine a certificate known to be false. This section applies to individuals who use a certificate they know to be untrue, as if it were authentic, to cause harm or wrongful gain.
Key Points:
- Using a False Certificate: Involves using a certificate known to be false.
- Knowledge: The person must know or believe the certificate to be false.
- Intent: The intent must be to cause harm or wrongful gain.
Is IPC Section 198 bailable?
It’s crucial to note that IPC Section 191 is non-bailable. This means that if an individual is accused of giving false evidence under this section, they are not automatically entitled to bail. They would need to make a bail application, and it would be at the discretion of the court to grant it, considering the circumstances of the case.
IPC Section 198 Punishment
The punishment for offences under IPC Section 198 is:
- Imprisonment: Imprisonment of either description (simple or rigorous) for a term extending to seven years.
- Acceptable: The person is also liable to a fine.
Example of IPC Section 198
A real-life example of IPC Section 198 would be a situation where an individual uses a forged educational certificate to secure a job. Suppose person A applies for a job and submits a fake degree certificate from a reputed university, knowing it to be false. If the employer discovers that the certificate is forged and person A knew it was false but used it as if it were genuine, person A would be charged under IPC Section 198 for using a certificate known to be untrue and would face the prescribed punishment.
