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IPC Section 499 in the BNS
Section 499 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Defamation. Imputation of truth which public good requires to be made or published. Public conduct of public servants. Conduct of any person touching any public question. Publication of reports of proceedings of Courts. Merits of case decided in Court or conduct of witnesses and others concerned. Merits of public performance. Censure passed in good faith by person having lawful authority over another. Accusation preferred in good faith to authorised person. Imputation made in good faith by person for protection of his or other's interests. Caution intended for good of person to whom conveyed or for public good, is now Section 356(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, which brings together IPC Sections 499, 500, 501 and 502.
IPC 499 and the BNS
| IPC | BNS | BNS heading |
|---|---|---|
| 499 | 356(1) | Defamation. |
Which code applies
The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita came into force on 1 July 2024. An offence committed before that date is still punished under the Indian Penal Code, because the BNS keeps the repealed Code's penalties and proceedings alive.
“Notwithstanding the repeal of the Code referred to in sub-section (1), it shall not affect,— … (c) any penalty, or punishment incurred in respect of any offences committed against the Code so repealed;”
Which code governs your matter can turn on the date of the offence and the stage the case had reached on 1 July 2024. Read the official text before you rely on any table.
Sources
Section numbers follow the correspondence table prepared by the Central Academy for Police Training, Bhopal, of the Bureau of Police Research and Development. Headings are taken from the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 as published, and from the table. The official text governs: read the section itself before you rely on it.
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