Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
BNS Section 299
Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs
In one line
BNS Section 299 deals with deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs and replaces IPC 295A.
Punishment, bail and court
| Section | Offence | Punishment | Cognizable | Bailable | Triable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 299 | Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs. | Imprisonment for 3 years, or fine, or both. | Cognizable. | Non-bailable. | Magistrate of the first class. |
Source: First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The punishment column is the Schedule’s summary; the section text below is what prescribes the punishment. Classification decides procedure (arrest, bail as of right, which court), not the result of any particular case.
Bare act text — BNS 299
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.
What changed from the IPC
- IPC 295A → BNS 299: Words "or through electronic means" are added.
Frequently asked
What was BNS Section 299 in the IPC?
BNS Section 299 (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) replaces Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. IPC 295A is now BNS 299.
What is the punishment under BNS 299?
Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs – punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both. Under the First Schedule to the BNSS, 2023 it is cognizable and non-bailable, triable by magistrate of the first class.
Is BNS 299 bailable?
Non-bailable: BNS 299. Bail in a non-bailable offence is at the court's discretion; the classification decides procedure, not the outcome of a particular bail application.
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Nearby BNS sections
- BNS 294 — Sale, etc., of obscene books, etc
- BNS 295 — Sale, etc., of obscene objects to child
- BNS 296 — Obscene acts and songs
- BNS 297 — Keeping lottery office
- BNS 298 — Injuring or defiling place of worship with intent to insult religion of any class
- BNS 300 — Disturbing religious assembly
- BNS 301 — Trespassing on burial places, etc
- BNS 302 — Uttering words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound religious feelings of any person
- BNS 303 — Theft
- BNS 304 — Snatching