Indian Penal Code, 1860
174.
Non-attendance in obedience to an order from public servant
Whoever, being legally
bound to attend in person or by an agent at a certain place and time in
obedience to a summons, notice, order or proclamation proceeding from any
public servant legally competent, as such public servant, to issue the same,
intentionally omits to
attend at that place of time, or departs from the place where he is bound to
attend before the time at which it is lawful for him to depart,
shall be punished with
simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one month, or with fine
which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both,
or, if the summons,
notice, order or proclamation is to attend in person or by agent in a Court of
Justice, with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months, or
with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
Illustrations
(a) A, being legally
bound to appear before the 92[High Court] at Calcutta, in obedience
to a subpoena issuing from that Court, intentionally omits to appear. A has
committed the offence defined in this section.
(b) A, being legally
bound to appear before a 93[District Judge], as a witness, in
obedience to a summons issued by that 93[District Judge]
intentionally omits to appear. A has committed the offence defined in this
section.