IPC Section 153A — Promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony

Summary

This section makes it a crime to use words, signs, or images to create hatred or ill-will between different groups based on religion, race, language, caste, or similar grounds. It also bans any act that harms harmony between such groups and disturbs public peace. Organizing or taking part in activities meant to train people to use criminal force or violence against any group, if it causes fear or insecurity, is also illegal. The punishment for these offences can be up to three years in prison, a fine, or both, but if the offence happens in a place of worship or during religious ceremonies, the punishment increases to up to five years in prison along with a fine.

Official Text

Whoever
by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise, promotes or attempts to promote, on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities, or
commits any act which is prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities, and which disturbs or is likely to disturb the public tranquillity, or
organizes any exercise, movement, drill or other similar activity intending that the participants in such activity shall use or be trained to use criminal force or violence or knowing it to be likely that the participants in such activity will use or be trained to use criminal force or violence, or participates in such activity intending to use or be trained to use criminal force or violence or knowing it to be likely that the participants in such activity will use or be trained to use criminal force or violence, against any religious, racial, language or regional group or caste or community and such activity for any reason whatsoever causes or is likely to cause fear or alarm or a feeling of insecurity amongst members of such religious, racial, language or regional group or caste or community, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
Offence committed in place of worship, etc Whoever commits an offence specified in sub-section (1) in any place of worship or in any assembly engaged in the performance of religious worship or religious ceremonies, shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine.

Related Judgments

• I - - MANZAR SA YEED KHAN v. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA — Supreme Court of India (2007)
• S.C.R. 198 AMISH DEVGAN v. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS — Supreme Court of India (2020)
• PATRICIA MUKHIM v. STATE OF MEGHALAYA & ORS — Supreme Court of India (2021)
• ..Petitioners vs 1.The State represented by its — Madras High Court ()
• GTC INDUSTRIES LTD v. COLLECTOR OF CENTRAL EXCISE, NEW DELHI JULY 22, 1997 — Supreme Court of India (S)
• I S.C.R. 74 SRI AUROBJNDO ASHRAM TRUST AND ORS v. R. RAMANATHAN AND ORS — Supreme Court of India (2016)
• CRL OP/30026/2018 — Madras High Court (2018)
• ... Petitioner/Accused No.5 vs State Rep. by — Madras High Court ()

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• BNS §196 — Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony