Section 166 of the IPC pertains to public servants who knowingly disobey any direction of the law regarding their conduct in their capacity as public servants. This section aims to hold public servants accountable for their actions and ensure that they fulfill their duties in accordance with the law.

To commit an offense under Section 166, a public servant must knowingly disobey a lawful direction of the law that governs their conduct. Additionally, they must have the intention to cause injury to any person, or they must know that such disobedience is likely to cause injury to someone.

A public servant found guilty of an offense under Section 166 may face a simple imprisonment term of up to one year, or a fine, or both, as determined by the court.

Certainly. Let’s consider an example:
Officer A is directed by law to take property in execution to satisfy a decree pronounced in Z’s favor by a Court of Justice. However, Officer A knowingly disobeys this lawful direction, fully aware that his actions are likely to cause injury to Z. In this scenario, Officer A has committed the offense defined in Section 166 of the IPC.

The objective of Section 166 is to ensure that public servants perform their duties in compliance with the law and do not misuse their authority or act negligently, which could result in harm to individuals. By imposing penalties for intentional disobedience that causes injury, the law aims to uphold the public’s trust in government officials.