Supporting Pakistan Without Mentioning India Not Offence Under Section 152 BNS: Allahabad HC

(MENAFN- Live Mint) The Allahabad High Court reportedly observed that merely expressing support for Pakistan without referencing any specific incident or mentioning India by name does not prima facie constitute an offence under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

According to Bar and Bench, a bench of Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal noted, "Merely showing support to the Pakistan without referring to any incident or mentioning the name of India, will not prima facie attract the offence under Section 152 BNS..."

"Merely posting a message to simply show support for any country may create anger or disharmony among citizens of India and may also be punishable under Section 196 BNS which is punishable up to seven years but definitively will not attract the ingredients of Section 152 BNS," the bench reportedly observed.

What is Section 152 BNS?

Section 152 BNS deals with acts that endanger the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India.

What is Section 196 BNS?

Section 196 of the BNS deals with the offense of promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, caste, or community, and doing acts that are prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony. It criminalises hate speech and actions that incite hatred or ill-will between different groups.

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