Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955
Section 3 :
Punishment for enforcing religious disabilities :
Whoever on the ground of untouchability prevents any person
(a) from entering any place of public worship which is open to other persons professing the same religion 1.[***] or any section thereof, as such person; or
(b) from worshipping or offering prayers or performing any religious service in any place of public worship, or bathing in, or using the waters of, any sacred tank, well, spring or water-course, 2.[river or lake or bathing at any ghat of such tank, water-course, river or lake]in the same manner and to the same extent as is permissible to other persons professing the same religion 1.[***] or any section thereof, as such person,
3.[shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term of not less than one month and not more than six months and also with fine which shall be not less than one hundred rupees and not more than five hundred rupees.]
Explanation :
For the purposes of this section and section 4 persons professing the Buddhist, Sikh or Jaina religion or persons professing the Hindu religion in any of its forms or developments including Virashavias, Lingayats, Adivasis, followers of Brahmo, Prarthana, Arya Samaj and the Swaminarayan Sampraday shall be deemed to be Hindus.
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1. The words “or belonging to the same religious denomination” omitted by Act 106 of 1976, Section 5 (w.e.f. 19.11.1976).
2. Inserted by Act 106 of 1976, Section 5 (w.e.f. 19.11.1976).
3. Substituted for “shall be punishable with imprisonment which may extend to six months, or with both” by Act 106 of 1976, Section 5, (w.e.f. 19.11.1976).
