Section 72 BNS: Disclosure Of Identity Of Victim Of Certain Offences, Etc.

Table of Contents

Section 72 BNS | BNS 72

72(1) BNS

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.

72(2) BNS

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.

Explanation— For the purposes of this sub-section, “recognised welfare institution or organisation” means a social welfare institution or organisation recognised in this behalf by the Central Government or the State Government.

READ OTHER SECTIONS OF CHAPTER V — OF OFFENCES AGAINST WOMAN AND CHILD

Section No.	Section Title
	Of Sexual Offences
63	Rape.
64	Punishment for rape.
65	Punishment for rape in certain cases.
66	Punishment for causing death or resulting in persistent vegetative state of victim.
67	Sexual intercourse by husband upon his wife during separation.
68	Sexual intercourse by a person in authority.
69	Sexual intercourse by employing deceitful means, etc.
70	Gang rape.
71	Punishment for repeat offenders.
72	Disclosure of identity of victim of certain offences, etc.
73	Printing or publishing any matter relating to Court proceedings without permission.
	Of Criminal Force And Assault Against Woman
74	Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty.
75	Sexual harassment.
76	Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe.
77	Voyeurism.
78	Stalking.
79	Word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of a woman.
	Of Offences Relating To Marriage
80	Dowry death.
81	Cohabitation caused by man deceitfully inducing belief of lawful marriage.
82	Marrying again during lifetime of husband or wife.
83	Marriage ceremony fraudulently gone through without lawful marriage.
84	Enticing or taking away or detaining with criminal intent a married woman.
85	Husband or relative of husband of a woman subjecting her to cruelty.
86	Cruelty defined.
87	Kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage, etc.
	Of Causing Miscarriage, Etc.
88	Causing miscarriage.
89	Causing miscarriage without woman’s consent.
90	Death caused by act done with intent to cause miscarriage.
91	Act done with intent to prevent child being born alive or to cause to die after birth.
92	Causing death of quick unborn child by act amounting to culpable homicide.
	Of Offences Against Child
93	Exposure and abandonment of child under twelve years of age, by parent or person having care of it.
94	Concealment of birth by secret disposal of dead body.
95	Hiring, employing or engaging a child to commit an offence.
96	Procuration of child.
97	Kidnapping or abducting child under ten years of age with intent to steal from its person.
98	Selling child for purposes of prostitution, etc.
99	Buying child for purposes of prostitution, etc.

Read all the chapters of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023

FAQs of BNS Section 72

72 BNS punishment and fine

Punishment and fine under Section 72(1) of the BNS: Imprisonment for 2
years and fine.
72 BNS cognizable or not

The offence under Section 72(1) of the BNS is cognizable.
72 BNS bailable or not

The offence under Section 72(1) of the BNS is bailable.
72 BNS trial court

Offence specified in Section 72(1) of the BNS is triable by any Magistrate.

Important Points

Cognizable Offences: These are offences where a police officer can arrest a person without a warrant.

Non-Cognizable Offences: These are offences where a police officer cannot arrest a person without a warrant.

Bailable Offences: These are offences where the accused can get bail from the police station itself. All bailable offences are listed in the First Schedule of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Non-Bailable Offences: Offences in which bail is not granted directly from the police station but after hearing the case in the court, the judge decides when bail will be granted. All non-bailable offences are listed in the first schedule of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).