THE PREVENTION OF INSULTS TO NATIONAL HONOUR ACT

THE PREVENTION OF INSULTS TO NATIONAL HONOUR ACT, 1971

ACT NO. 69 OF 1971

[23rd December, 1971.]

An Act to prevent insults to national honour.

BE it enacted by Parliament in the Twenty-second Year of the Republic of India as follows:—

1. Short title and extent.—(1) This Act may be called the Prevention of Insults to National Honour

Act, 1971.

(2) It extends to the whole of India.

2. Insults to Indian National Flag and Constitution of India.—Whoever in any public place or in

any other place within public view burns, mutilates, defaces, difiles, disfigures, destroys, tramples upon or

[otherwise shows disrespect to or brings] into contempt (whether by words, either spoken or written, or

by acts) the Indian National Flag or the Constitution of India or any part thereof, shall be punished with

imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

Explanation 1.—Comments expressing disapprobation or criticism of the Constitution or of the

Indian National Flag or of any measures of the Government with a view to obtain an amendment of the

Constitution of India or an alteration of the Indian National Flag by lawful means do not constitute an

offence under this section.

Explanation 2.—The expression “Indian National Flag” includes any picture, painting, drawing or

photograph, or other visible representation of the Indian National Flag, or of any part or parts thereof,

made of any substance or represented on any substance.

Explanation 3.—The expression “public place” means any place intended for use by, or accessible to,

the public and Includes any public conveyance.

[Explanation 4.—The disrespect to the Indian National Flag means and includes—

(a) a gross affront or indignity offered to the Indian National Flag; or

(b) dipping the Indian National Flag in salute to any person or thing; or

Flag is flown at half-mast on public buildings in accordance with the instructions issued by the

Government; or

(d) using the Indian National Flag as a drapery in any form whatsoever except in State funerals or

armed forces or other para-military forces funerals; or

[(e) using the Indian National Flag,—

(i) as a portion of costume, uniform or accessory of any description which is worn below the

waist of any person; or

(ii) by embroidering or printing it on cushions, handkerchiefs, napkins, undergarments or any

dress material; or]

(f) putting any kind of inscription upon the Indian National Flag; or

(g) using the Indian National Flag as a receptacle for receiving, delivering or carrying anything

except flower petals before the Indian National Flag is unfurled as part of celebrations on special

occasions including the Republic Day or the Independence day; or

(h) using the Indian National Flag as covering for a statute or a monument or a speaker’s desk or

a speaker’s platform; or

1. Subs. by Act 31 of 2003, s. 2, for “otherwise brings” (w.e.f. 8-5-2003).

2. The Explanation inserted by s. 2, ibid. (w.e.f. 8-5-2003).

3. Subs. by Act 51 of 2005, for clause (e) (w.e.f. 20-12-2005).

(i) allowing the Indian National Flag to touch the ground or the floor or trail in water

intentionally; or

(j) draping the Indian National Flag over the hood, top and sides or back or on a vehicle, train,

boat or an aircraft or any other similar object; or

(k) using the Indian National Flag as a covering for a building; or

(l) intentionally displaying the Indian National Flag with the “saffron” down.]

3. Prevention of singing of Indian National Anthem, etc.—Whoever Intentionally prevents the

singing of the Indian National Anthem or causes disturbance to any assembly engaged in such singing

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

both.

[3A. Enhanced penalty on second and subsequent convictions.—Whoever, having already been

convicted of an offence under section 2 or section 3, is again convicted of any such offence shall be

punishable for the second and for every subsequent offence, with imprisonment for a term which shall not

be less than one year.]

1. Ins. by Act 31 of 2003, s. 3 (w.e.f. 8-5-2003).