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Section 300: Disturbing Religious Assembly

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita • Chapter XV: Of Offences Affecting Public Health, Safety & Morals • Official Statutory Text & Legal Guide

Chapter XV: Of Offences Affecting Public Health, Safety & Morals
Any Magistrate
Bailable
Cognizable
Formerly Sec 296 IPC
Section 299 All 358 Sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 301

Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 300

Section 300 penalises voluntarily causing disturbance to any assembly lawfully engaged in the performance of religious worship or religious ceremonies.

  • Lawful Religious Assembly: A congregation or gathering lawfully assembled for prayers, puja, mass, or sacred rites.
  • Voluntary Disturbance: Creating noise, physical intrusion, violence, or hurling objects to disrupt the proceedings.
  • Disruption of Worship: Actually disturbing or preventing the peaceful culmination of the sacred ceremony.
Key Landmark Precedents:
  • G.V. Rao v. L.H.V. Prasad (2000) 3 SCC 693: Reiterated that peaceful observance of religious prayer meetings is protected by law, and violent disruption of religious services attracts penal consequences.
  • Public Prosecutor v. Sunku Seethiah (1910) ILR 34 Mad 92: Held that shouting political slogans or singing secular songs inside a mosque or church during ongoing prayers constitutes voluntary disturbance under this section.
Courtroom Practice & Strategic Litigation Guidance:

Prosecution must establish that the assembly was lawful and that worship was actively underway. Defence may establish that the venue was a public thoroughfare and that the assembly lacked requisite police assembly permissions.

Section 299 All 358 Sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Section 301