Section 166 of Indian Penal Code, 1860:
Whoever, being a public servant, knowingly disobeys any direction of the law as to the way in which he is to conduct himself as such public servant intending to cause, or knowing it to be likely that he will, by such disobedience, cause injury to any person, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
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ADVERTISEMENTS:
Illustration:
A, being an officer directed by law to take property in execution, in order to satisfy a decree pronounced in Z’s favour by a Court of Justice, knowingly disobeys that direction of law, with the knowledge that he is likely thereby to cause injury to Z. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
Ingredients of offence:
The essential ingredients of the offence under Section 166 are as follows:
ADVERTISEMENTS:
(1) Accused is a public servant;
(2) He disobeyed any express direction of law;
(3) He disobeyed it knowingly;
(4) He knew or he intended that it will cause injury or is likely to cause injury to others.