UNKNOWN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19762, 8 October 1927, Page 12

UNKNOWN

PREVALENCE IN INDIA. LAW TO BE STRENGTHENED. Arising out of the recent controversy over the "Rangilla Rasol" judgment (the notorious case concerned with a pamphlet written by a Hindy containing insulting references to the prophet Mohammed), the Government of India recently announced its decision to amend the law regarding religious offences. The Government states that the deplorable prevalence of malicious writings intended to insult a religion or outrage religious feelings of others has led the Government of India to examine the existing provisions of the law with a view to seeing whether they require to be strengthened in cases-where such writings are not covered by chapter 15 of the Indian Penal Code, which deals with offences relating tc religion'. Such case® can, however, usually be dealt with under section 153 a of the Indian Penal Code, as it is seldom that they do not represent an attempt to promote feelings of emnit\ or hatred between different classes- fi must be recognised, however, that thi: is only -an indirect way of deaiiUg wit) acts which may properly bis: made punish l able in themselves, apart from the question as to whether they" may have thi further effect of promoting feelings oi enmity or hatred between classes. The Government of India has therefor decided to introduce a bill at once into tht Legislative Assembly with the object o inserting into chapter 1 of the India i Penal Code a new section which will naak it a specific offence intentionally to insal or attempt to insult a religion, or outrage or attempt to outrage the religious feelings of any class of His Majesty's subjects. Certain consequential amendments will also be proposed in the Code of Criminal Procedure