● Retained in BNS
Assault or criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty carries a mandatory minimum sentence. BNS Section 74 retains the same offence and punishment as IPC Section 354.
Section 354 IPC punished assault or use of criminal force on a woman with intent to outrage her modesty, or knowing it likely to do so, with imprisonment of 1 to 5 years and fine.
BNS Section 74 retains the offence and punishment: imprisonment of not less than 1 year, extendable to 5 years, and fine.
Carried over substantially unchanged; renumbered from IPC 354 to BNS 74 and placed in the chapter on offences against women and children.
Imprisonment of not less than 1 year, extendable to 5 years, and fine..
IPC 354 is non-bailable..
This is a cognizable. offence.
Non-compoundable..
Matters under IPC 354 are tried before the Any Magistrate..
Common defences include absence of intent or knowledge that the act was likely to outrage modesty, mistaken identity, and that the physical contact was accidental rather than deliberate. Courts scrutinise the complainant testimony closely, though delay in reporting or minor inconsistencies are not decisive on their own.
Summaries are for general information and are not legal advice. For the authoritative bare-act text, see the official Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and Indian Penal Code, 1860 (full amended text, as it stood before repeal) on India Code, or the Ministry of Home Affairs' new criminal laws page. ← All comparisons