Whoever voluntarily causes or attempts to cause any person to do anything which that person is not legally bound to do, or to omit to do anything which he is legally entitled to do, by inducing or attempting to induce that person to believe that he or any person in whom he is interested will become or will be rendered by some act of the offender an object of Divine displeasure if he does not do the thing which it is the object of the offender to cause him to do, or if he does the thing which it is the object of the offender to cause him to omit, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.
Illustrations:
(a) A sits dharna at Z’s door with the intention of causing it to be believed that, by so sitting, he renders Z an object of Divine displeasure. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
(b) A threatens Z that, unless Z performs a certain act, A will kill one of A’s own children, under such circumstances that the killing would be believed to render Z an object of Divine displeasure. A has committed the offence defined in this section.
Simplified Explanation
Section 354 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 addresses offenses related to inducing someone to act or refrain from acting through the use of divine threats or the threat of Divine displeasure.
Key Provisions of Section 354:
Offense Definition:
- The section criminalizes the act of causing or attempting to cause someone to do something they are not legally bound to do, or to omit something they are legally entitled to do, by:
- Inducing or attempting to induce that person to believe that failure to act in a certain way, or doing something that the offender opposes, will result in the person or someone they care about being rendered an object of Divine displeasure.
Punishment:
- If found guilty, the offender will face:
- Imprisonment of either description (simple or rigorous) for a term which may extend to one year, or a fine, or both.
Illustrations:
- Example 1: A sits in dharna (a protest) at Z’s door, intending to make Z believe that by allowing the protest to continue, Z will incur Divine displeasure. A has committed the offense under this section.
- Example 2: A threatens Z that, unless Z performs a certain act, A will kill one of A’s own children. Under such circumstances, if it is believed that the killing would render Z an object of Divine displeasure, A has committed the offense.
Summary:
Section 354 aims to prevent the manipulation or coercion of individuals by making them believe that Divine punishment or displeasure will befall them or someone they care about if they do not comply with the demands of the offender. It criminalizes the use of religious or spiritual threats to influence someone’s actions, and those found guilty of such manipulation can face imprisonment or fines. This provision safeguards individuals from being coerced through psychological or spiritual pressure.
