BNS Section 189 – Unlawful assembly
(1) An assembly of five or more persons is designated an “unlawful
assembly”, if the common object of the persons composing that assembly is—
(a) to overawe by criminal force, or show of criminal force, the Central Government or any State
Government or Parliament or the Legislature of any State, or any public servant in the exercise of the
lawful power of such public servant; or
(b) to resist the execution of any law, or of any legal process; or
(c) to commit any mischief or criminal trespass, or other offence; or
(d) by means of criminal force, or show of criminal force, to any person, to take or obtain
possession of any property, or to deprive any person of the enjoyment of a right of way, or of the use
of water or other incorporeal right of which he is in possession or enjoyment, or to enforce any right
or supposed right; or
(e) by means of criminal force, or show of criminal force, to compel any person to do what he is
not legally bound to do, or to omit to do what he is legally entitled to do.
Explanation.—An assembly which was not unlawful when it assembled, may subsequently become
an unlawful assembly.
(2) Whoever, being aware of facts which render any assembly an unlawful assembly, intentionally
joins that assembly, or continues in it, is said to be a member of an unlawful assembly and such member
shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or
with fine, or with both.
(3) Whoever joins or continues in an unlawful assembly, knowing that such unlawful assembly has
been commanded in the manner prescribed by law to disperse, shall be punished with imprisonment of
either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
(4) Whoever, being armed with any deadly weapon, or with anything which, used as a weapon of
offence, is likely to cause death, is a member of an unlawful assembly, shall be punished with
imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
(5) Whoever knowingly joins or continues in any assembly of five or more persons likely to cause a
disturbance of the public peace, after such assembly has been lawfully commanded to disperse, shall be
punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with
fine, or with both.
Explanation.—If the assembly is an unlawful assembly within the meaning of sub-section (1), the
offender shall be punishable under sub-section (3).
(6) Whoever hires or engages, or employs, or promotes, or connives at the hiring, engagement or
employment of any person to join or become a member of any unlawful assembly, shall be punishable as
a member of such unlawful assembly, and for any offence which may be committed by any such person
as a member of such unlawful assembly in pursuance of such hiring, engagement or employment, in the
same manner as if he had been a member of such unlawful assembly, or himself had committed such
offence.
65
(7) Whoever harbours, receives or assembles, in any house or premises in his occupation or charge,
or under his control any persons knowing that such persons have been hired, engaged or employed, or are
about to be hired, engaged or employed, to join or become members of an unlawful assembly, shall be
punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with
fine, or with both.
(8) Whoever is engaged, or hired, or offers or attempts to be hired or engaged, to do or assist in doing
any of the acts specified in sub-section (1), shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for
a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.
(9) Whoever, being so engaged or hired as referred to in sub-section (8), goes armed, or engages or
offers to go armed, with any deadly weapon or with anything which used as a weapon of offence is likely
to cause death, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to
two years, or with fine, or with both.
Important Links
 An assembly of five or more persons is designated an “unlawful assembly”, if the common object of the){kind=link}