Section 14 IPC - Servant of Government
Section 14 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 defined the expression "servant of Government." This article explains the definition as it stood immediately before the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 came into force.
The words "servant of Government" denote any officer or servant continued, appointed or employed in India by or under the authority of Government.
Meaning of Servant of Government under Section 14 IPC
Section 14 was a statutory definition provision. It identified the persons to whom the expression "servant of Government" referred when that expression was used in the IPC. The definition covered an officer or servant who was continued, appointed or employed in India by Government or under governmental authority.
The provision did not itself create an offence or prescribe a punishment. Its purpose was interpretative: it supplied a defined meaning for use with other provisions of the Indian Penal Code.
Essential Elements of Section 14 IPC
The wording of Section 14 focused on the relationship between the officer or servant and Government. The person had to be an officer or servant who was continued, appointed or employed in India, and that continuation, appointment or employment had to be by or under the authority of Government.
The words "by or under the authority of Government" are therefore central to the statutory definition. Whether a person fell within Section 14 had to be considered in light of the person's appointment or employment and the relevant legal and factual context.
Meaning of Government for the IPC
Section 14 should be read with Section 17 IPC - Government, which supplied the Code's definition of "Government." Reading related definition provisions together helps determine the meaning of expressions used elsewhere in the IPC.
Servant of Government and Public Servant
"Servant of Government" under Section 14 and "public servant" under Section 21 IPC were separately defined expressions. Section 21 contained its own detailed categories of persons treated as public servants. The expressions should therefore be applied according to their respective statutory definitions and the provision under consideration.
Legal Position before Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023
Historical legal position: This page explains Section 14 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 as applicable immediately before the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 came into force on 1 July 2024. It is maintained as an IPC reference for the earlier legal framework and matters in which the former law remains relevant.
Related IPC Definitions
Related provisions include Section 11 IPC - Person, Section 12 IPC - Public, Section 17 IPC - Government, Section 20 IPC - Court of Justice, and Section 21 IPC - Public Servant.