Library/BNS/Section 194
Section 194Non-BailableOFFENCE

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

Full Text

(1) Whoever—\n(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\n(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\n(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... shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

Plain English Summary

Penalises hate speech and actions that promote social disharmony or enmity between groups.

Punishment

3 to 5 years

Practical Note

Equivalent to IPC 153A. Modernised to explicitly include "electronic communication".

हिंदी पाठ

धर्म, मूलवंश, जन्मस्थान, निवास, भाषा आदि के आधारों पर विभिन्न समूहों के बीच शत्रुता का संवर्धन और सौहार्द बने रहने पर प्रतिकूल प्रभाव डालने वाले कार्य करना।\n(1) जो कोई—\n(क) बोले गए या लिखे गए शब्दों द्वारा या संकेतों द्वारा या दृश्यरूपणों द्वारा या इलेक्ट्रॉनिक सूचना या अन्यथा, धर्म, मूलवंश, जन्मस्थान, निवास, भाषा, जाति या समुदाय या किसी अन्य आधार पर विभिन्न धार्मिक, मूलवंशीय, भाषायी या प्रादेशिक समूहों या जातियों या समुदायों के बीच असौहार्द या शत्रुता, घृणा या वैमनस्य की भावनाएं संवर्धित करेगा या संवर्धित करने का प्रयत्न करेगा; या...