What Is BNS Section 299?

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 - Section 299: Deliberate and Malicious Acts Intended to Outrage Religious Feelings of Any Class by Insulting Its Religion or Religious Beliefs

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.

Brief Detail

BNS Section 299 is designed to protect the religious sentiments of individuals and communities from deliberate insults and malicious actions that could provoke communal tensions.

Question & Answers

Q1: What constitutes an offence under this section?

A1: Insulting or attempting to insult the religion or religious beliefs of any class with deliberate and malicious intent is considered an offence.

Q2: What forms can the insults take according to this section?

A2: Insults can be made through spoken or written words, signs, visible representations, electronic means, or any other methods.

Q3: What are the potential penalties for violating this section?

A3: Offenders can face imprisonment for up to three years, a fine, or both.

Example

Example Scenario:

If someone posts derogatory remarks about a particular religion on social media with the intent to insult its followers, they could be prosecuted under Section 299.

Summary

BNS Section 299 emphasizes the protection of religious sentiments in India, penalizing those who deliberately insult or outrage the religious feelings of any class of citizens.