BNS §72
Disclosure of identity of victim of certain offences, etc.
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1[228A. Disclosure of identity of the victim of certain offences, etc.—(1) Whoever prints or publishes the name or any matter which may make known the identity of any person against whom an 2[offence under section 376, 3[section 376A, section 376AB, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D, section 376DA, section 376DB] or section 376E] is alleged or found to have been committed (hereafter in this section referred to as the victim) shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years and shall also be liable to fine.
(2) Nothing in sub-section
(1) extends to any printing or publication of the name or any matter which may make known the identity of the victim if such printing or publication is— (a) by or under the order in writing of the officer-in-charge of the police station or the police officer making the investigation into such offence acting in good faith for the purposes of such investigation; or (b) by, or with the authorisation in writing of, the victim; or (c) where the victim is dead or minor or of unsound mind, by, or with the authorisation in writing of, the next of kin of the victim: Provided that no such authorisation shall be given by the next of kin to anybody other than the chairman or the secretary, by whatever name called, of any recognised welfare institution or organisation. Explanation.—For the purposes of this sub-section, “recognised welfare institution or organisation” means a social welfare institution or organisationrecognised in this behalf by the Central or State Government. 1. Ins. by Act 43 of 1983, s. 2. 2. Subs. by Act 13 of 2013, s. 4, for “offence under section 376, section 376A, section 376B, section 376C or section 376D” (w.e.f. 3-2-2013). 3. Subs. by Act 22 of 2018, s. 3, for “section 376A, section 376B, section 376C, section 376D” (w.e.f. 21-4-2018).
(3) Whoever prints or publishes any matter in relation to any proceeding before a court with respect to an offence referred to in sub-section
(1) without the previous permission of such court shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years and shall also be liable to fine. Explanation.—The printing or publication of the judgment of any High Court or the Supreme Court does not amount to an offence within the meaning of this section.]
(1) Whoever prints or publishes the name or any matter which may make known the identity of any person against whom an offence under section 64 or section 65 or section 66 or section 67 or section 68 or section 69 or section 70 or section 71 is alleged or found to have been committed (hereafter in this section referred to as the victim) shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years and shall also be liable to fine.
(2) Nothing in sub-section (1) extends to any printing or publication of the name or any matter which may make known the identity of the victim if such printing or publication is— (a) by or under the order in writing of the officer-in-charge of the police station or the police officer making the investigation into such offence acting in good faith for the purposes of such investigation; or (b) by, or with the authorisation in writing of, the victim; or (c) where the victim is dead or a child or of unsound mind, by, or with the authorisation in writing of, the next of kin of the victim: Provided that no such authorisation shall be given by the next of kin to anybody other than the chairman or the secretary, by whatever name called, of any recognised welfare institution or organisation.
What changedAI-inferred
IPC 228A (disclosure of identity of victim of certain offences — added to IPC by Act 43 of 1983) is preserved as BNS 72 with cross-references updated from IPC sections (376, 376A, 376AB, 376B, 376C, 376D, 376DA, 376DB, 376E) to BNS sections (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71). The substantive offence (printing or publishing the name or matter that may make known the identity of a victim of specified sexual offences) and the three-prong consent exception (police-officer-investigation; victim or her authorisation; next-of-kin authorisation in case of death/child/unsound mind) are preserved character-identically. The notable structural change is the chapter relocation: from IPC Chapter XI (False Evidence) to BNS Chapter V (Offences Against Woman And Child) — repositioning the offence under a victim-protection framework.
Old position
IPC 228A is concerned with Disclosure of identity of the victim of certain offences, etc. 1[228A
New position
BNS 72 preserves the framework with drafting modernisations as required by the new code. Topic: Disclosure of identity of victim of certain offences, etc.. Whoever prints or publishes the name or any matter which may make known the identity of any person against whom an offence under section 64 or section 65 or section 66 or section 67 or section 68 or section 69 or section 70 or section 71
IPC 228A (disclosure of identity of victim of certain offences — added to IPC by Act 43 of 1983) is preserved as BNS 72 with cross-references updated from IPC sections (376, 376A, 376AB, 376B, 376C, 376D, 376DA, 376DB, 376E) to BNS sections (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71). The substantive offence...
Editorial deltaAI-indicated (source-linked)
IPC 228A (disclosure of identity of victim of certain offences — added to IPC by Act 43 of 1983) is preserved as BNS 72 with cross-references updated from IPC sections (376, 376A, 376AB, 376B, 376C, 376D, 376DA, 376DB, 376E) to BNS sections (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71). The substantive offence (printing or publishing the name or matter that may make known the identity of a victim of specified sexual offences) and the three-prong consent exception (police-officer-investigation; victim or her authorisation; next-of-kin authorisation in case of death/child/unsound mind) are preserved character-identically. The notable structural change is the chapter relocation: from IPC Chapter XI (False Evidence) to BNS Chapter V (Offences Against Woman And Child) — repositioning the offence under a victim-protection framework.
Transitional note (repeal & savings)
For matters initiated before 1 July 2024, IPC 228A continues to apply. For matters from that date forward, BNS 72 applies. The transition is governed by the repeal-and-savings clause in the new code (BNS 358 / BNSS 531 / BSA 170 as the case may be); pending proceedings under the old code carry forward unaffected.
Frequently asked
BNS 72 (Disclosure of identity of victim of certain offences, etc.). The relationship is classified as substantively_same — see the change-note above for the textual delta.
Sources
- India Code — Indian Penal Code, 1860
- Gazette of India — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
Cite this page
Newlaws.in, IPC §228A → BNS §72 Mapping Page, last updated 2026-05-01, accessed 2026-06-14, https://newlaws.in/bns/72.
Compiled using AI-assisted tools · Source-linked · Last updated 2026-05-01
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