Section 198 - Public servant disobeying law, with intent to cause injury to any person

Public servant disobedience: criminal liability where knowing statutory directions are disobeyed with intent or likelihood to cause injury.

Section 198 criminalises a public servant who knowingly disobeys a legal direction as to his conduct, when he intends to cause injury or knows his disobedience is likely to cause injury; punishment is simple imprisonment up to one year, or fine, or both. The illustration applies the provision to an officer who, directed to take property in execution, knowingly disobeys that direction while knowing injury to the creditor is likely.