Community service is increasingly being used as an alternative to imprisonment in many jurisdictions across the world. The emphasis is on doing community service under the supervision of a probation or community service officer. The offenders who must undertake community service are usually made to work in NGOs, old-age homes, and community-based organisations, so that they develop a sense of accountability and responsibility towards society and the community. The experience of countries such as Norway, the Netherlands, and Australia, where offenders undertaking community service are supervised by community service officers or probation officers, or Japan, where they are supervised through a network of hogoshis (volunteer probation officers), has shown that this led to reduced prison populations and a progressive criminal justice apparatus.

Under the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), there are six offences that can attract the punishment of community service; these include Section 202 (public servant unlawfully engaging in trade), Section 209 (non-appearance in response to a proclamation under section 84 of the BNSS), Section 226 (attempt to commit suicide to compel or........

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