Criminal Law Videos - IPC Section 151 (Continuing an assembly after it has been commanded to disperse)

IPC Section 151 prescribes punishment for knowingly joining or continuing in an assembly of five or more persons, such assembly not being an unlawful assembly, after it has been commanded lawfully to disperse. While this section is similar in nature to section 145 of the Code, the difference between the two lies in the fact that while section 145 prohibits joining or continuing in an unlawful assembly when the same is lawfully commanded to disperse, this section prohibits joining or continuing in an assembly of five or more persons which assembly is not an unlawful assembly.

The explanation under this section clarifies this point and says that if the assembly is an unlawful assembly within the meaning of section 141, the offender will be punishable under section 145. The section says that whoever joins or continues in any assembly of five or more persons likely to cause disturbance of the public peace with knowledge after such assembly has been lawfully commanded to disperse, shall be punished with simple or rigorous imprisonment for a term extending up to six months, or with fine, or with both, Under this section also the assembly must consist of at least five persons even though this assembly is not an unlawful assembly as it does not have a common object as stated under section 141 of the Code.

The offence under this section is cognizable, bailable and non-compoundable, and is triable by any magistrate.