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Section history

Section 298A — Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion or race and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony

As in force on 30 November 2008.

Timeline 5 versions
  1. 1 February 2008 Act 51 of 2007
  2. 30 November 2008 Revised edition
  3. 31 December 2021 Revised edition
  4. 1 November 2022 Act 31 of 2019, Act 23 of 2021
  5. 17 August 2026 Latest
Revised edition in force 30 November 2008

The text below is this provision as reproduced in the Revised Edition that came into force on this date. A revised edition consolidates the law without changing its substance, so editorial amendments — such as renumbering, updated citations and formatting — may have been made but are not shown as a redline.

298A.Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion or race and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony

Whoever —

(a)by words, either spoken or written, or by signs or by visible representations or otherwise, knowingly promotes or attempts to promote, on grounds of religion or race, disharmony or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will between different religious or racial groups; or

(b)commits any act which he knows is prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different religious or racial groups and which disturbs or is likely to disturb the public tranquility,

shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 3 years, or with fine, or with both.

[Indian PC 1860, s. 153A]