IPC Section 298 — Uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings

Summary

If a person deliberately says something, makes a sound, or uses a gesture or object in front of someone else with the clear aim of hurting that person's religious feelings, they can be punished. The punishment can be imprisonment for up to one year, a fine, or both.

Official Text

Whoever, with the deliberate intention of wounding the religious feelings of any person, utters any word or makes any sound in the hearing of that person or makes any gesture in the sight of that person or places any object in the sight of that person, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.

Related Judgments

• SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
• S.C.R. 446 PRAVASI BHALAI SANGATHAN v. UNION OF INDIA & ORS — Supreme Court of India (2014)
• S.C.R. 763 MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI v. YERRAGUNTLA SHYAMSUNDAR AND ANR — Supreme Court of India (2017)
• PRIYA PRAKASH VARRIER AND OTHERS v. STATE OF TELANGANA AND ANOTHER — Supreme Court of India (2018)
• S.C.R. 198 AMISH DEVGAN v. UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS — Supreme Court of India (2020)
• ...Petitioner vs 1. The Principal Secretary to the Government, — Madras High Court (2019)
• MATHEW SAMUEL [ PETITIONER ] vs STATE REP BY [ RESPONDENTS ] — Madras High Court (2019)
• R.L. PARDESHI v. MAHARASHTRA — Supreme Court of India (1987)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

• BNS §302 — Uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings of any person