IPC Section 295A — Deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs

Summary

A person who deliberately and maliciously intends to hurt the religious feelings of any group of Indian citizens, and insults or tries to insult their religion or religious beliefs through spoken or written words, signs, visible images, or any other means, can be punished with imprisonment for up to three years, or a fine, or both.

Official Text

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 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.

Referred to by

• CrPC §95 — Power to declare certain publications forfeited and to issue search-warrants for the same
• CrPC §108 — Security for good behaviour from persons disseminating seditious matters

Related Judgments

• PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (ST) NO. 38 OF 2017; Pathan Sarfaraz and an vs The State of Maharashtra & Ors — Bombay High Court (Mumbai Principal Seat) (2018)
• AMISH DEVGAN vs UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS — Supreme Court of India (2020)
• DR. RATAN LAL vs STATE GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR — Delhi High Court (2024)
• PRIYA PRAKASH VARRIER AND OTHERS vs STATE OF TELANGANA AND ANOTHER — Supreme Court of India (2018)
• HARNAM DAS vs STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH — Supreme Court of India (1961)
• RAMJI LAL MODI vs THE STATE OF U.P — Supreme Court of India (1957)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• BNS §299 — Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs