Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The question asks for the specific section in the Indian Penal Code (IPC) that deals with the offence of hurting someone's religious feelings through words or sounds.
Step 2: Key Legal Provision:
Chapter XV of the IPC deals with "Offences Relating to Religion."
Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
- Section 298 of IPC is titled "Uttering, words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person." It penalizes whoever, with the deliberate intention of wounding the religious feelings of any person, utters any word or makes any sound in the hearing of that person or makes any gesture in the sight of that person. This directly matches the description in the question.
- Section 296 of IPC deals with the offence of disturbing a religious assembly.
- Section 297 of IPC deals with the offence of trespassing on burial places, etc., with intent to wound the feelings or insult the religion of any person.
Step 4: Final Answer:
The act of uttering words with deliberate intention to wound religious sentiments is dealt with under Section 298 of the IPC.
A glance over all the Sections related to extortion would reveal a clear distinction being carried out between the actual commission of extortion and the process of putting a person in fear for the purpose of committing extortion. Section 383 defines extortion, the punishment therefor is given in Section 384. Sections 386 and 388 provide for an aggravated form of extortion. These sections deal with the actual commission of an act of extortion, whereas Sections 385, 387 and 389 IPC seek to punish for an act committed for the purpose of extortion even though the act of extortion may not be complete and property not delivered. It is in the process of committing an offence that a person is put in fear of injury, death or grievous hurt. Section 387 IPC provides for a stage prior to committing extortion, which is putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt ’in order to commit extortion’, similar to Section 385 IPC. Hence, Section 387 IPC is an aggravated form of 385 IPC, not 384 IPC. Having deliberated upon the offence of extortion and its forms, we proceed to analyze the essentials of both Sections, i.e.,383 and 387 IPC, the High Court dealt with.
(Extracted from Balaji Traders v. State of UP, 2025 INSC 806)