1[294A. Keeping lottery office.—Whoever keeps any office or place for the purpose of drawing any lottery 2[not being 3[a State lottery] or a lottery authorised by the 4[State] Govern­ment], shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.

And whoever publishes any proposal to pay any sum, or to deliver any goods, or to do or forbear doing anything for the benefit of any person, on any event or contingency relative or applicable to the drawing of any ticket, lot, number or figure in any such lottery, shall be punished with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees.]

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

Para I

Punishment—Imprisonment for 6 months, or fine, or both—Non-cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compound­able.

Para II

Punishment—Fine of 1,000 rupees—Non-Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.

STATE AMENDMENTS

Andhra Pradesh

Section 294A is repealed.

[Vide Andhra Pradesh Act 16 of 1968, sec. 27 (w.e.f. 1-2-1969)].

Gujarat

Section 294A is repealed.

[Vide Bombay Act 82 of 1958, sec. 33 read with Bombay Act 11 of 1960, sec. 87].

Karnataka

In Karnataka area except Ballary District, section 294A is repealed.

[Vide Mysore Act 27 of 1957, sec. 33].

Maharashtra

Section 294A is repealed.

[Vide Bombay Act 82 of 1958, sec. 33 (w.e.f. 1-5-1959)]

Manipur

Section 294A is repealed.

[Vide Manipur Act 2 of 1992, sec. 30 (w.e.f. 6-8-1992)].

Uttar Pradesh

Section 294A Omitted.

[Vide Uttar Pradesh Act 24 of 1995, sec. 11].

—————————-

1. Ins. by Act 27 of 1870, sec. 10.

2. Subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “not authorised by Government”.

3. Subs. by Act 3 of 1951, sec. 3 and Sch., for “a lottery orga­nised by the Central Government or the Government of a Part A State or a Part B State”.

4. Subs. by the A.O. 1950, for “Provincial”.

1[294. Obscene acts and songs.—Whoever, to the annoyance of others—

(a) does any obscene act in any public place, or

(b) sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place,

shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine, or with both.]

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

Punishment—Imprisonment for 3 months, or fine, or both—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magistrate—Non-compoundable.

—————————

1. Subs. by Act 3 of 1895, sec. 3, for the original section.

1[293. Sale, etc., of obscene objects to young person.—Whoever sells, lets to hire, distributes, exhibits or circulates to any person under the age of twenty years any such obscene object as is referred to in the last preceding section, or offers or at­tempts so to do, shall be punished 2[on first conviction with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, and, in the event of a second or subsequent conviction, with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and also with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees].]

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

Punishment—On first conviction, with imprisonment for 3 years, and with fine of 2,000 rupees, and, in the event of second of subsequent conviction, with imprisonment for 7 years, and with fine of 5,000 rupees—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magis­trate—Non-compoundable.

STATE AMENDMENTS

Orissa

Same as in Tamil Nadu.

[Vide Orissa Act 13 of 1962, sec. 4 (w.e.f. 16-5-1962)].

Tamil Nadu

In Section 293,—

(a) for the words “any such obscene object as is referred to in the last preceding section” the words, figures and letter “any such obscene object as is referred to in section 292 or any such newspaper, periodical, circular, picture or other printed or written document as is referred to in section 292-A” shall be substituted;

(b) for the words “which may extend to six months” the words “which may extend to three years” shall be substituted;

(c) in the marginal note, after the words “obscene objects” the words “any grossly indecent or scurrilous matter intended for blackmail shall be inserted.”

[Vide Tamil Nadu Act 25 of 1960, sec. 4 (w.e.f. 9-11-1960)].

———————-

1. Subs. by Act 8 of 1925, sec. 2, for the original section.

2. Subs. by Act 36 of 1969, sec. 2, for certain words (w.e.f. 7-9-1969).

Whoever,

(a) prints or causes to be printed in any newspaper, periodical or circular, or exhibits or causes to be exhibited, to public view or distributes or causes to be distributed or in any manner puts into circulation any picture or any printed or written document which is grossly indecent, or in scurrilous or intended for blackmail; or

(b) sells or lets for hire, or for purposes of sale or hire makes, produces or has in his possession, any picture or any printed or written document which is grossly indecent or is scurrilous or intended for blackmail; or

(c) conveys any picture or any printed or written document which is grossly indecent or is scurrilous or intended for blackmail knowing or having reason to believe that such picture or document will be printed, sold, let for hire distributed or publicly exhibited or in any manner put into circulation; or

(d) takes part in, or receives profits from, any business in the course of which he knows or has reason to believe that any such newspaper, periodical, circular, picture or other printed or written document is printed, exhibited, distributed, circulated, sold, let for hire, made, produced, kept, conveyed or purchased; or

(e) advertises or makes known by any means whatsoever that any person is engaged or is ready to engage in any Act which is an offence under this section, or that any such newspaper, periodi­cal, circular, picture or other printed or written document which is grossly indecent or is scurrilous or intended for blackmail, can be procured from or through any person; or

(f) offers or attempts to do any act which is an offence under this section *[shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both]:

Provided that for a second or any subsequent offence under this section, he shall be punished with imprisonment of either de­scription for a term which shall not be less than six months **[and not more than two years].

Explanation I

For the purposes of this section, the word scur­rilous shall be deemed to include any matter which is likely to be injurious to morality or is calculated to injure any person:

Provided that it is not scurrilous to express in good faith anything whatever respecting the conduct of—

(i) a public servant in the discharge of his public functions or respecting his character so far as his character appears in that conduct and no further; or

(ii) any person touching any public question, and respecting his character, so far as his character appears in that conduct and no further.

Explanation II

In deciding whether any person has committed an offence under this section, the court shall have regard inter alia, to the following considerations—

(a) The general character of the person charged, and where rele­vant the nature of his business;

(b) the general character and dominant effect of the matter alleged to be grossly indecent or scurrilous or intended for blackmail;

(c) any evidence offered or called by or on behalf of the accused person as to his intention in committing any of the acts speci­fied in this section.

[Vide Tamil Nadu Act 25 of 1960, sec. 3 (w.e.f. 9-11-1960)].

* Subs. by Tamil Nadu Act 30 of 1984.

** Ins. by Tamil Nadu Act 30 of 1984, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 28-6-1984).

———————–

1. Subs. by Act 8 of 1925, sec. 2, for the original section.

2. Ins. by Act 36 of 1969, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 7-9-1969).

3. Section 292 renumbered as sub-section (2) thereof by Act 36 of 1969, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 7-9-1969).

4. Subs. by Act 36 of 1969, sec. 2, for certain words (w.e.f. 7-9-1969).

5. Subs. by Act 36 of 1969, sec. 2, for Exception (w.e.f. 7-9-1969).

1[292. Sale, etc., of obscene books, etc.— 2[(1) For the purposes of sub-section (2), a book, pamphlet, paper, writing, drawing, painting, representation, figure or any other object, shall be deemed to be obscene if it is lascivious or appeals to the pruri­ent interest or if its effect, or (where it comprises two or more distinct items) the effect of any one of its items, is, if taken as a whole, such as to tend to deprave and corrupt person, who are likely, having regard to all relevant circumstances, to read, see or hear the matter contained or embodied in it.]

3[(2)] Whoever—

(a) sells, lets to hire, distributes, publicly exhibits or in any manner puts into circulation, or for purposes of sale, hire, distribution, public exhibition or circulation, makes, produces or has in his possession any obscene book, pamphlet, paper, drawing, painting, representation or figure or any other obscene object whatsoever, or

(b) imports, exports or conveys any obscene object for any of the purposes aforesaid, or knowing or having reason to believe that such object will be sold, let to hire, distributed or publicly exhibited or in any manner put into circulation, or

(c) takes part in or receives profits from any business in the course of which he knows or has reason to believe that any such obscene objects are for any of the purposes aforesaid, made, produced, purchased, kept, imported, exported, conveyed, publicly exhibited or in any manner put into circulation, or

(d) advertises or makes known by any means whatsoever that any person is engaged or is ready to engage in any act which is an offence under this section, or that any such obscene object can be procured from or through any person, or

(e) offers or attempts to do any act which is an offence under this section,

shall be punished 4[on first conviction with im­prisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, and with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, and, in the event of a second or subsequent conviction, with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, and also with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees].

5[Exception.—This section does not extend to—

(a) any book, pamphlet, paper, writing, drawing, painting, repre­sentation or figure—

(i) the publication of which is proved to be justified as being for the public good on the ground that such book, pamphlet, paper, writing, drawing, painting, representation or figure is in the interest of science, literature, art or learning or other objects of general concern, or

(ii) which is kept or used bona fide for religious purposes;

(b) any representation sculptured, engraved, painted or otherwise represented on or in—

(i) any ancient monument within the meaning of the Ancient Monu­ments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958 (24 of 1958), or

(ii) any temple, or on any car used for the conveyance of idols, or kept or used for any religious purpose.]]

CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENCE

Punishment—On first conviction, with imprisonment for 2 years, and with fine of 2,000 rupees, and, in the event of second of subsequent conviction, with imprisonment for five years and with fine of 5,000 rupees—Cognizable—Bailable—Triable by any Magis­trate—Non-compoundable.

STATE AMENDMENTS

Orissa

Same as in Tamil Nadu.

[Vide Orissa Act 13 of 1962, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 16-5-1962)].

Tamil Nadu

In section 292, for the words “shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months or with fine or with both” substitute the following, namely:—

“shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years or with fine or with both:

Provided that for a second or any subsequent offence under this section, he shall be punished with imprisonment of either de­scription for a term which shall not be less than six months and not more than two years and with fine.

[Vide Tamil Nadu Act 25 of 1960, sec. 2 (w.e.f. 9-11-1960)].

Orissa

Section 292A

Same as in Tamil Nadu.

[Vide Orissa Act 13 of 1962, sec. 3 (w.e.f. 16-5-1962)].

Tamil Nadu

After section 292, insert the following new section namely:—