BNS 196 — Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony.

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Statutory text

196. (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,  racial,  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
tranquillity; 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.
Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration.

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