BNS 72 — Disclosure of identity of victim of certain offences, etc.

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Statutory text

72. (1) Whoever prints or publishes the name or any matter which
may make known the identity of any person against whom an offence under
section 64 or section 65 or section 66 or section 67 or section 68 or section
69 or section 70 or section 71 is alleged or found to have been committed
(hereafter in this section referred to as the victim) shall be punished with
imprisonment  of  either  description  for  a  term  which  may  extend  to  two
years and shall also be liable to fine.
 (2) Nothing in sub-section (1) extends to any printing or publication
of the name or any matter which may make known the identity of the victim
if such printing or publication is—
  (a) by or under the order in writing of the officer-in-charge of
the  police  station or  the  police  officer  making  the  investigation into  such
offence acting in good faith for the purposes of such investigation; or
(b) by, or with the authorisation in writing of, the victim; or
(c) where the victim is dead or a child or of unsound mind, by,
or with the authorisation in writing of, the next of kin of the victim:
Provided that no such authorisation shall be given by the next of kin
to anybody other than the chairman or the secretary, by whatever name
called, of any recognised welfare institution or organisation.
 Explanation.—For  the  purposes  of  this  sub-section,  “recognised
welfare institution or organisation” means a social welfare institution or
organisation  recognised  in  this  behalf  by  the  Central  Government  or  the
State Government.
Printing    or    publishing    any    matter    relating    to    Court
proceedings without permission.

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