296. Whoever, to the annoyance of others,— (a) does any obscene act in any public place; or (b) sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
IPC Section 294 in BNS: Section 296
Obscene acts and songs
Section 294 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Obscene acts and songs) corresponds to Section 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, in force from 1 July 2024. Under the BNSS First Schedule, BNS 296 is cognizable, bailable, triable by Any Magistrate; punishment: Imprisonment for 3 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both.
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Bail, cognizability and punishment
| Section | Offence | Punishment | Cognizable | Bailable | Triable by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 296 | Obscene acts and songs. | Imprisonment for 3 months, or fine of 1,000 rupees, or both. | Cognizable | Bailable | Any Magistrate |
Source: BNSS, 2023, First Schedule, Part I.
The BNS applies to offences committed on or after 1 July 2024. Offences committed earlier are charged and tried under the IPC.
Text of BNS Section 296
Full BNS Section 296 and every IPC section it replaced →
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