Section 354: Assault of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty

The Indian Penal Code, 1860Central Act · Act 45 of 1860

Repealed. This text is published for reference. It is not in force, and it should not be relied on as current law without checking what replaced it. Repealed by the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, with effect from 1 July 2024

Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any woman, intending to outrage or knowing it to be likely that he will there by outrage her modesty, 1 [shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to fine].

STATE AMENDMENT

Chhattisgarh.--

In Section 354 of the Penal Code, the following proviso shall be inserted, namely: --

Provided that where offence is committed, under this Section by a relative, guardian or teacher or a person in a position of trust or authority towards the person assaulted, he shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than two years but which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine.

[Vide Chhattisgarh Act 25 of 2015, sec. 3]

Where this provision sits

Act	The Indian Penal Code, 1860
Section	354
Marginal note	Assault of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty
Jurisdiction	Central
Status	Repealed
Judgments citing it	1,276

Judgments that turned on this provision

CR.A/464/2011 of NISHI SHARMA Vs ASHOK SHARMAHigh Court of Himachal Pradesh · 2026-03-24
ACQA/10/2022 of STATE OF CHHATTISGARH Vs DHANESHWAR DEWANGANHigh Court of Chhattisgarh · 2026-01-29
CRL.P/15725/2025 of PAVAN KUMAR K C Vs STATE BYHigh Court of Karnataka · 2026-01-12
CRMMO/1079/2022 of RAMESH KUMAR AND ORS Vs STATE OF HP AND ORSHigh Court of Himachal Pradesh · 2025-12-30

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