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CHAPTER XVI OF OFFENCES AFFECTING THE HUMAN BODY · Of Criminal Force and Assault

Section 354: Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty

The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (repealed)

Repealed by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (45 of 2023) with effect from 1 July 2024.

Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any woman, intending to outrage or knowing it to be likely that he will there by outrage her modesty, 1[shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to fine].

State Amendment (as printed in the official text)

Chhattisgarh

In Section 354 of the Penal Code, the following proviso shall be inserted, namely: —

Provided that where offence is committed, under this Section by a relative, guardian or teacher or a person in a position of trust or authority towards the person assaulted, he shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than two years but which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine.

[Vide Chhattisgarh Act 25 of 2015, sec. 3]

Footnotes in the official text

  1. 1.Subs. by Act 13 of 2013, s. 6, for “shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both” (w.e.f. 3-2-2013).

Now in the BNS

As given in the correspondence table of the National Crime Records Bureau (Ministry of Home Affairs). Read both texts before relying on it. NCRB table

354. Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty.BNS 74

Questions on this section

3 questions in 8 of our papers cite Section 354.

Practise questions on Criminal Law