Company : Sol Infotech Pvt. Ltd. Website : www.courtkutchehry.com Prevention Of Insults To National Honour Act, 1957 14 of 1957 [18 November 1957] CONTENTS 1. Short title 2. Burning, etc., of effigy, picture, portrait of Mahatma Gandhi an offence 3. Destruction of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi an offence 4. Burnig, etc., of Indian National Flag an offence 5. Burning, etc., of the Constitution to be act of offence 6. Attempts to be offences 7. Savings Prevention Of Insults To National Honour Act, 1957 14 of 1957 [18 November 1957] PREAMBLE An Act to prevent insults to National Honour. Whereas it is expedient and necessary to prevent certain offences against the Indian National Flag, pictures, effigies and statues of the Father of the Nation, or the Constitution of India; Be it enacted in the Eighth Year of the Republic of India as follows:-- 1 For Statement of Objects and Reasons, see Fort St. George Gazette, Part IV-A, Extraordinary, dated the 6th November 1957, page 132. 1. Short title :- This Act may be called the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1957. 2. Burning, etc., of effigy, picture, portrait of Mahatma Gandhi an offence :- Whoever wilfully burns or desecrates or insults, any effigy, picture or portrait of Mahatma Gandhi shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both. Explanation.--In this section, "picture" includes any print, drawing, painting or other representation, of the figure of Mahatma Gandhi. 3. Destruction of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi an offence :- Whoever wilfully causes damage to, or destruction of, any statue or bust of Mahatma Gandhi or any such change in such statue or bust or in the situation thereof, as destroy or diminish its value or appearance or otherwise affects it injuriously, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both. 4. Burnig, etc., of Indian National Flag an offence :- Whoever wilfully burns or desecrates or insults the Indian National Flag shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both. Explanation. In this section, "Indian National Flag" includes any pictorial representation thereof. 5. Burning, etc., of the Constitution to be act of offence :- Whoever wilfully burns or desecrates or insults any copy or a copy of a part of the Constitution of India, shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years or with fine or with both. 6. Attempts to be offences :- Whoever attempts to commit any offence punishable under this Act shall be deemed to have committed that offence. 7. Savings :- Nothing in this Act shall exempt any person from any proceeding which might, apart from this Act, be brought against him.