Section 299 · Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs
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Whoever, with deliberate and malicious intention of
outraging the religious feelings of any class of citizens of India, by words, either spoken or written, or by
signs or by visible representations or through electronic means or otherwise, insults or attempts to insult
the religion or the religious beliefs of that class, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description
for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
The offence at a glance
- Punishment
- up to 3 years, fine (no stated ceiling)
- Cognizable
- Cognizable
- Bailable
- Non-bailable
- Compoundable
- Not compoundable
- Triable by
- Magistrate of the first class
- Cognizable — Police may arrest without a warrant
- Non-bailable — Bail is at the court's discretion
From the First Schedule to the BNSS (the CrPC's, for IPC offences)
Under the old law
BNS 299IPC 295A
295A. Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.
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