Home / India / Religious offences
Religious offencesPossibly — unconfirmed
Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.
Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed
§ 298 — destroying, damaging or defiling a place of worship or sacred object, intending / knowing it likely to insult a religionPossibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0 (no mandatory prison) – 2 years
- Fine
- Fine (amount not stated in section)
0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.
§ 299 — deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class, by insulting its religion / religious beliefs (including by electronic means)Possibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0 (no mandatory prison) – 3 years
- Fine
- Fine (amount not stated in section)
0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.
§ 300 — voluntarily causing disturbance to an assembly lawfully engaged in religious worship / ceremoniesPossibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0 (no mandatory prison) – 1 year
- Fine
- Fine (amount not stated in section)
0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.
§ 301 — trespassing on burial places / places of worship / funeral sites; indignity to a human corpse; disturbing funeral ceremoniesPossibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0 (no mandatory prison) – 1 year
- Fine
- Fine (amount not stated in section)
0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.
§ 302 — uttering words / making sounds / gestures / placing objects with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any personPossibly — unconfirmed
- Imprisonment
- 0 (no mandatory prison) – 1 year
- Fine
- Fine (amount not stated in section)
0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.