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LawpatraLawpatra
BNS, 2023
Start Practicing
BNSChapter XISection 196
Section196

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

AI Assist

Summary

By words, signs, visible representations or electronic communication, promoting or trying to promote disharmony, enmity, hatred or ill-will between groups (religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste, community or other grounds), or doing acts likely to disturb public tranquility, is punishable with up to three years imprisonment, fine, or both. If the offence occurs in a place of worship or during religious worship/ceremony, the punishment may extend to five years and will also include a fine.

Example

Ravi posts a video online blaming a neighbouring language community for local problems and urging others to shun them. Because the content promotes enmity between language groups and risks disturbing public tranquility, Ravi can face up to three years imprisonment, a fine, or both. If he had done this inside a place of worship or during a religious ceremony, the sentence could extend to five years plus fine.

Bare Act

Enacted text

(1) Whoever,

  • (a) by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or through electronic communication 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, racials, language or regional groups or castes or communities; or

  • (b) 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 tranquility; or

  • (c) organises 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.

(2) 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.

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XI

Chapter XI

Of Offences Against The Public Tranquillity

In this chapter

  • 189Unlawful assembly
  • 190Every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object
  • 191Rioting
  • 192Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot- if rioting be committed; if not committed
  • 193Liability of owner, occupier etc., of land on which an unlawful assembly or riot takes place
  • 194Affray
  • 195Assaulting or obstructing public servant when suppressing riot, etc
  • 196Promoting enmity between different groups on ground of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony
  • 197Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration
Previous · Section 195Assaulting or obstructing public servant when suppressing riot, etcNext · Section 197Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration