Legal Provisions of Section 157 of Indian Penal Code, 1860.
Harbouring persons hired for an unlawful assembly:
While section 150 of the Code penalises hiring, or conniving at hiring, of persons to join an unlawful assembly, this section punishes harbouring of such persons who have been hired for an unlawful assembly. According to this section, whoever harbours, receives or assembles any persons in any house, or premises in his occupation or charge, or under his control, with the knowledge that such persons have been or are about to be hired, engaged or employed, to join or become members of an unlawful assembly, shall be punished with simple or rigorous imprisonment for a term extending up to six months, or with fine, or with both. The harbouring, receiving or assembling of persons hired, engaged or employed under this section has to be for joining or becoming members of an unlawful assembly. The section will have no application if the situation is otherwise.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
The offence under this section is cognizable, bailable and non-compoundable, and is triable by metropolitan magistrate or magistrate of the first or second class.