Section 505:
Statements conducing to public mischief.
1[505. Statements conducing to public mischief.-- 2[(1)] Whoever makes, publishes or circulates
any statement, rumour or report,
(a) with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, any officer, soldier, 3
[sailor or airman] in the
Army, 4
[Navy or Air Force] 5
[of India] to mutiny or otherwise disregard or fail in his duty as such; or
(b) with intent to cause, or which is likely to cause, fear or alarm to the public, or to any section
of the public whereby any person may be induced to commit an offence against the State or against
the public tranquility; or
(c) with intent to incite, or which is likely to incite, any class or community of persons to commit
any offence against any other class or community,
shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to 6[three years], or with fine, or with both.
7[(2) Statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes.Whoever
makes, publishes or circulates any statement or report containing rumour or alarming news with intent to
create or promote, or which is likely to create or promote, on grounds of religion, race, place of birth,
residence, language, caste or community or any other ground whatsoever, feelings of enmity, hatred or illwill between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities, shall be
punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
(3) Offence under sub-section (2) committed in place of worship, etc.Whoever commits an
offence specified in sub-section (2) in any place of worship or in any assembly engaged in the
performance of religious worship or religious ceremonies, shall be punished with imprisonment which
may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine.]
Exception.It does not amount to an offence, within the meaning of this section, when the person
making, publishing or circulating any such statement, rumour or report, has reasonable grounds for
believing that such statement, rumour or report is true and makes, publishes or circulates it 2
[in good faith
and] without any such intent as aforesaid.]
Notes:
1. Subs. by Act 4 of 1898, s. 6, for s. 505.
2. Section 505 re-numbered as sub-section (1) of that section by Act 35 of 1969, s. 3.
3. Subs. by Act 10 of 1927, s. 2 and the First Sch., for "or sailor".
4. Subs. by s. 2 and the First Sch., ibid., for "or Navy".
5. Subs. by the A. O. 1950, for "of Her Majesty or in the Imperial Service Troops" "The words or in the Royal Indian Marine"
occurring after the word Majesty omitted by Act 35 of 1934, s. 2 and Sch.
6. Subs. by Act 41 of 1961, s. 4, for "two years".
7. Ins. by Act 35 of 1969, s. 3.