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In India, religion isn’t just a matter of faith—it’s tied deeply to identity, family, and even daily routine. A temple bell, a Friday prayer, a Christmas mass—each is more than ritual. It’s part of who people are. That’s why when someone targets a religion—by insulting a belief, defiling a place of worship, or disrupting a religious event—it causes more than offence. It creates division.

BNS Chapter 16 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, was designed to handle such cases. It’s not about protecting religion itself—it’s about protecting people’s right to practice their religion in peace. This chapter, which includes Sections 298 to 302, covers what are known as "offences relating to religion."

Let’s take a closer look—not from a lawyer’s lens, but from the point of view of everyday people.

Why BNS Chapter 16 Still Matters

India’s religious landscape is delicate. Over the years, we’ve seen how one speech, one social media post, or one deliberate insult can turn into something far bigger. And once those fires are lit, they’re not easy to control.

That’s why BNS Chapter 16 exists—not to punish harmless mistakes, but to deter intentional actions that seek to insult, provoke, or divide.

Section 298 – Damaging Places of Worship with Intent to Insult

The key word here is intent. Section 298 doesn’t apply if you accidentally knock over a diya or misstep into a restricted space. But if someone throws something offensive into a shrine, or vandalizes a church knowing that it’ll hurt sentiments, then the law applies.

Places of worship are treated with reverence. Damaging them—especially to send a message—isn’t just illegal. It’s an attack on a community’s sense of dignity.

Punishment: Up to two years in prison, or a fine, or both.

Section 299 – Acts Meant to Outrage Religious Feelings

This is where the law gets more serious. BNS Chapter 16, through Section 299, punishes anyone who does something deliberately and maliciously to outrage the feelings of a religious group.

That could mean creating artwork meant to insult a deity. Or sharing content that mocks funeral rites of a specific religion with the sole purpose of provoking people.

It’s not about whether someone was offended—it’s about whether you intended to offend.

Punishment: Up to three years of imprisonment and/or a fine.

Section 300 – Disturbing Religious Gatherings

Sometimes it’s not what you say, but where and when you say it. Section 300 of BNS Chapter 16 focuses on protecting religious assemblies—spaces where people gather peacefully to pray, chant, or listen to spiritual teachings.

Imagine someone interrupting a Sunday service, or playing music loudly outside a mosque during Friday prayers just to be disrespectful. That’s more than inconsiderate. It’s a legal offence.

Punishment: Up to one year of imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Section 301 – Respecting Burial Grounds and Sacred Sites

Across India, funeral grounds hold sacred value—regardless of religion. Section 301 addresses the unauthorized trespass or damage to these places.

Whether it’s a graveyard, cremation ghat, or a hall where last rites are performed, using that land improperly, or building over it, is illegal.

The logic is simple: respect continues after death.

Punishment: One year imprisonment, fine, or both.

Section 302 – Speech That Intentionally Hurts Religious Beliefs

Not every controversial comment is punishable. But when someone intentionally uses words—whether written, spoken, or symbolic—to wound religious feelings, Section 302 comes into effect.

It covers things like public speeches mocking sacred rituals, or songs made to degrade a religious belief system—not by accident, but as a plan to insult.

The law here draws a fine line between free speech and hate.

Punishment: One year in prison, or a fine, or both.

BNS vs IPC: What’s New in Chapter 16?

While the provisions of BNS Chapter 16 largely mirror those in the Indian Penal Code, the BNS provides a more streamlined and reader-friendly structure. It makes it easier for law students, common citizens, and officials to understand.

The key difference lies in presentation and arrangement, not necessarily in content.

The Role of BNS Chapter 16 in Today’s World

In 2025, most offences relating to religion begin online. A meme goes viral. A reel sparks outrage. A blog post crosses the line. What used to be isolated is now national within minutes.

That’s why the role of BNS Chapter 16 in regulating religious hate speech is more relevant than ever. These laws aren’t just used in courtrooms anymore—they’re being cited in FIRs against digital content daily.

Final Word: Laws Can’t Teach Respect, But They Can Enforce It

BNS Chapter 16 isn't a set of rules designed to protect one religion or another. It’s a framework that reminds us all—faith may be personal, but respect must be shared.

Whether you believe in one god, many, or none, these laws say one thing: your beliefs don’t give you the right to insult someone else’s. And in a country like India, that balance is essential.