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.

Related Judgments

• PRIYA PRAKASH VARRIER AND OTHERS v. STATE OF TELANGANA AND ANOTHER — Supreme Court of India (2018)
• ...Petitioner vs 1. The Principal Secretary to the Government, — Madras High Court (2019)
• S.C.R. 198 AMISH DEVGAN v. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS — Supreme Court of India (2020)
• S.C.R. 763 MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI v. YERRAGUNTLA SHYAMSUNDAR AND ANR — Supreme Court of India (2017)
• S.C.R. SUPREME COURT REPORTS 487 HARNAM DAS v. STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH — Supreme Court of India (1962)
• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• ... Petitioner vs 1.The Chief Secretary — Madras High Court (2017)
• VINOD DUA v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS — Supreme Court of India (2021)

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