IPC to be Amended to Punish Racial Discrimination

The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the Delhi High Court to introduce two new sections which will curb racial discrimination. If the laws are introduced, anyone charged for racial discrimination can land in jail for up to five years and have to cough up a fine.

Racial discrimination against north-eastern people may soon land a person in jail for up to five years, and become a non-bailable offence.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has asked the Delhi High Court to strengthen the legal framework against racial discrimination by amending the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Photo: ugtimes.com

New sections 153C and 509A in Indian Penal Code (IPC) will be introduced in the law to take the matters of racial discrimination more seriously.

Under the proposed section 153C, any words, both spoken and written, or signs attempting to discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, or indulging in any activity intended to use criminal force or violence against a particular race will be a non-bailable offence punishable with imprisonment up to five years and a fine.

In addition to this, Section 509A will make any word, gesture or act intended to insult a member of a particular race lead to imprisonment that may extend to three years with a fine.

Apart from introducing two strong amendments, people from north-east regions will also be provided with facilities like legal assistance, inclusion through sports, special police initiatives, etc.

Photo: www.e-pao.org

With new laws getting introduced soon, we hope to see no more unfortunate events like Nido Tania’s case, when this 19-year-old student from Arunachal Pradesh was killed in an alleged racial attack in Delhi in January 2014.

So the next time you pass any derogatory and racial comments, be prepared for the consequences.

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