BNS 197 — Imputations, assertions prejudicial to national integration.

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Statutory text

197. (1) Whoever, by words either spoken or written or by signs or
by   visible   representations   or   through   electronic   communication   or
otherwise,—
(a)  makes  or  publishes  any  imputation  that  any  class  of  persons
cannot, by reason of their being members of any religious, racial, language
or regional group or caste or community, bear true faith and allegiance to
the Constitution of India as by law established or uphold the sovereignty
and integrity of India; or
(b) asserts, counsels, advises, propagates or publishes that any class
of persons shall, by reason of their being members of any religious, racial,
language or regional group or caste or community, be denied, or deprived
of their rights as citizens of India; or
(c)  makes  or  publishes  any  assertion,  counsel,  plea  or  appeal
concerning the obligation of any class of persons, by reason of their being
members  of  any  religious,  racial,  language  or  regional  group  or  caste  or
community, and such assertion, counsel, plea or appeal causes or is likely
to cause disharmony or feelings of enmity or hatred or ill-will between such
members and other persons; or
(d) makes or publishes false or misleading information, jeopardising
the sovereignty, unity and integrity or security of India,
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.

Back to BNS