IPC 509 vs BNS 509
● Retained in BNSWord, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman
Section 509 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, deals with words, gestures, or acts intended to insult the modesty of a woman. This law is designed to protect women from verbal, non-verbal, or physical conduct that violates their dignity or modesty, ensuring a safe and respectful social environment.
Key points:
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Punishment: Imprisonment up to 3 years, or fine, or both.
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Applies to any act, word, or gesture intended to outrage a woman’s modesty.
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Covers offences such as making sexually explicit comments, gestures, or other actions with the intent to offend.
For example, making lewd remarks or showing obscene gestures toward a woman in public constitutes an offence under IPC 509. The section safeguards women’s dignity and personal security, reinforcing the principle of gender respect in society.
Word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman
Section 509 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, mirrors IPC 509. It criminalizes any word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman, maintaining the same scope, intent, and punishment as IPC 509.
Key aspects of BNS 509:
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Punishment: Up to 3 years imprisonment, or fine, or both, same as IPC 509.
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Covers verbal, non-verbal, or physical conduct designed to offend a woman’s dignity.
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Focuses on protecting women from harassment and maintaining societal respect for women.
BNS 509 ensures that acts intended to outrage the modesty of women are punishable offences, consistent with IPC 509, strengthening legal protection for women.
What changed?
This provision was carried over to the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita with substantially the same wording — the section was renumbered from IPC IPC 509 to BNS BNS 509.