Answer
Ans:
Introduction:
Blasphemy is a misdemeanour at common at common law punishable by fine and imprisonment. It consists in:
(i) Scoffingly or irreverently ridiculing or impugning the doctrines of the Christian faith;
(ii) in uttering or publishing contumelious reproaches of Jesus Christ; or
(iii) In profane scoffing at the Holy Scriptures or exposing any part thereof to contempt or ridicule. It is not blasphemy with due gravity and propriety to contend that the Christian religion or any part of its doctrine, or the whole or any part of the Holy Scriptures, is untrue.
Offences Relating to Religion:
In Sections 295 to 298, which are follows—
I. Injury place of worship:
According to S. 295 P.P.C. injuring or defiling a place of worship, or any object held sacred by any class of persons, with intent to insult the religion of any class of persons (S. 295) punishment up to 2 years and/or fine.
Ingredients:
This section requires two essentials:
(i) Destruction, damage, or defilement of:
(a) any place of worship, or
(b) any object held sacred by a class of persons.
(ii) Such destruction, etc., must have been done:
(a) with the intention of insulting the religion of a class of persons,
(b) with the knowledge that a class of persons is likely to consider such destruction etc, as an
insult to their religion.
2. Intend to o..::age religious feelings:
According to S.295-A P.P.C. deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs (S. 295-A) punishment up to 3 years and/or fine.
3. Defiling, of the Holy Qur’an:
According to S. 295-13 P.P.C. whoever, willfully defiles, damages or desecrates a copy of the Holy Quran or of an extract therefrom or use it is any derogatory manner or for any unlawful purpose shall be punishable with imprisonment for life.
4. Use of derogatory remarks:
According to S. 295-C, P.P.C., whoever by words, either spoken or written or by visible representation. or by any imputation. innuendo, or insinuation, directly or indirectly, defiles the sacred name of the Holy Prophet Muhammad. (S.A.W.) be punished with death, or imprisonment for life.
5. Disturbing religious assembly:
According to Section 296 P.P.C., voluntarily disturbing a religious assembly lawfully engaged in the performance of religious worship or religious ceremonies, punishment for one year and/or fine.
6. Trespassing on burial place:
According to S. 297 P.P.C. trespassing in any place of worship or burial place offering any indignity to a human corpse, with intent to wound the feelings or religion of any person- punishments one year.
Uttering word:
According to Ss. 298, 298-A P.P.C. uttering words or making signs. with the intention of wounding the religious feelings of any person (S.298) punishment as in (5) above, using derogatory remarks in respect by holy messenger (S.298-A) punishment up to 3 years or fine or bot1.