Section 78 BNS or Section 78 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita talks about “Stalking“
Section 78 of BNS is part of CHAPTER V OF OFFENCES AGAINST WOMAN AND CHILD in Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 Act
Definition of Section 78 BNS
- Any man who,
- follows a woman and contacts, or attempts to contact such woman to foster personal interaction repeatedly despite a clear indication of disinterest by such woman; or
- monitors the use by a woman of the internet, e-mail or any other form of electronic communication, commits the offence of stalking;
Provided that such conduct shall not amount to stalking if the man who pursued it proves that,- it was pursued for the purpose of preventing or detecting crime and the man accused of stalking had been entrusted with the responsibility of prevention and detection of crime by the State; or
- it was pursued under any law or to comply with any condition or requirement imposed by any person under any law; or
- in the particular circumstances such conduct was reasonable and justified.
- Whoever commits the offence of stalking shall be punished on first conviction with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine; and be punished on a second or subsequent conviction, with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to fine.
BNSS Classification
- Stalking: Imprisonment up to 3 years and fine.
- Second or subsequent conviction: Imprisonment up to 5 years and fine.
- Cognizable
- Bailable for Stalking
- Non-bailable for Second or subsequent conviction
- Triable by Any Magistrate
FAQs
🔍 Section 78 BNS – Stalking
Legal Definition:
Section 78 of the BNS defines stalking as follows:
- Follows a woman and attempts to foster personal interaction repeatedly, despite her clear disinterest, or
- Monitors her internet usage, email, or any electronic communication — is guilty of stalking.
Exceptions – Not considered stalking if:
- The act was done to prevent or detect a crime by a state-authorized official.
- It was done under a legal obligation.
- The conduct was reasonable and justified under the specific circumstances.
📌 Key Highlights & Main Points of Section 78 BNS
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Offence | Stalking (physical or digital) |
| Applicable To | Men only (as per current text) |
| Punishment (First offence) | Up to 3 years’ imprisonment + fine |
| Punishment (Repeat offence) | Up to 5 years’ imprisonment + fine |
| Cognizability | Cognizable (Police can arrest without warrant) |
| Bailability | Bailable for first offence, Non-bailable for second/subsequent |
| Triable By | Any Magistrate |
| Chapter | Chapter V – Offences against Women and Children |
🛃 How Police Use Section 78 BNS
- Police can register FIR suo motu upon a woman’s complaint.
- Electronic evidence (WhatsApp messages, social media logs, GPS, emails) is commonly used.
- Police may arrest the accused immediately if the matter is grave, especially if it’s a repeat offence.
- Often invoked in relationship disputes that go sour.
Advocate Sudhir Rao notes that Section 78 is increasingly being used in urban cyber-policing cases, where digital tracking or messaging becomes obsessive.
🛡️ If You Are an Accused or Suspect – Things to Keep in Mind
- Do not panic – It’s a bailable offence for the first time.
- Avoid further communication with the complainant.
- Preserve digital evidence (texts, call logs, location history) that may prove your intent was not wrongful.
- Engage a competent criminal defense lawyer. Someone like Advocate Sudhir Rao, who has handled stalking-related matters at the Supreme Court, can argue the intent and exceptions in your favour.
- Be prepared to file anticipatory bail if the complaint seems exaggerated or motivated.
🧾 If You Are the Complainant – What to Do
- Document and record all interactions – Screenshots, call logs, messages.
- Clearly express disinterest in writing (messages, email).
- File FIR immediately if stalking continues.
- Avoid retaliation or informal settlement — seek legal remedy.
- Advocate Sudhir Rao advises complainants to demand digital forensics during the investigation to ensure evidence preservation.
👨⚖️ Role of a Good Lawyer – How They Can Help You
- Argue exceptions (public duty, legal obligation, reasonableness).
- Challenge evidence admissibility (unauthenticated screenshots, tampered logs).
- Help you get bail or anticipatory bail quickly.
- If you’re innocent, a skilled lawyer like Advocate Sudhir Rao can move for quashing FIR under CrPC 482 if it’s a false case.
- In case of conviction, they can appeal and seek suspension of sentence.
🌐 Most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
🔹 What is Section 78 of BNS?
It criminalizes stalking (following a woman or monitoring her online activity despite her disinterest).
🔹 Is Section 78 BNS bailable or non-bailable?
- Bailable for first-time offence.
- Non-bailable on second or subsequent conviction.
🔹 What is the punishment under Section 78 BNS?
- First offence: Up to 3 years and fine.
- Repeat offence: Up to 5 years and fine.
🔹 Is Section 78 BNS triable by which court?
Any Magistrate can try the case.
🔹 What is BNS?
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 — the new criminal code replacing IPC (Indian Penal Code), effective from 1 July 2024.
🔹 What is the difference between 78 and 79 BNS?
- Section 78: Stalking.
- Section 79: Voyeurism (watching or capturing images of a woman in private acts).
🔹 Is BNS better than IPC?
BNS modernizes laws with digital provisions, quicker trials, and gender-sensitivity. However, it also expands the powers of police.
🔹 78 BNS in Hindi / Telugu / Malayalam?
Here is the translation of BNS Section 78 (Stalking) in Hindi, Telugu, and Malayalam, formatted precisely and legally
📘 Hindi Translation (हिंदी अनुवाद)
कोई पुरुष,
यदि वह किसी महिला का पीछा करता है और उस महिला से व्यक्तिगत संपर्क स्थापित करने के लिए बार-बार संपर्क करता है या प्रयास करता है, जबकि उस महिला ने स्पष्ट रूप से असहमति व्यक्त की हो; या
किसी महिला के इंटरनेट, ई-मेल या किसी अन्य इलेक्ट्रॉनिक संचार के उपयोग की निगरानी करता है,
तो वह स्टॉकिंग (Stalking) का अपराध करता है।
परंतु, यह आचरण तब स्टॉकिंग नहीं माना जाएगा, यदि आरोपी पुरुष यह साबित कर दे कि—
- यह कृत्य किसी अपराध को रोकने या पता लगाने के उद्देश्य से किया गया था, और आरोपी को राज्य द्वारा अपराध की रोकथाम और पता लगाने की जिम्मेदारी सौंपी गई थी; या
- यह किसी कानून के अंतर्गत, या किसी विधिक आवश्यकता को पूरा करने के लिए किया गया था; या
- विशेष परिस्थितियों में यह आचरण उचित और न्यायसंगत था।
दंड:
- पहली बार दोषी पाए जाने पर, तीन वर्ष तक की कारावास और जुर्माना।
- दूसरी या बाद की दोषसिद्धि पर, पाँच वर्ष तक की कारावास और जुर्माना।
BNSS वर्गीकरण:
- संज्ञेय अपराध (Cognizable)
- पहली बार बायलबल (Bailable), लेकिन पुनरावृत्ति पर नॉन-बायलबल (Non-bailable)
- किसी भी मजिस्ट्रेट द्वारा विचारणीय।
📙 Telugu Translation (తెలుగు అనువాదం)
ఏ పురుషుడు,
ఒక మహిళ పట్ల ఆసక్తి లేకపోయినప్పటికీ, ఆమెను అనుసరించడం మరియు వ్యక్తిగత సంబంధం కోసం పదేపదే సంప్రదించడం లేదా ప్రయత్నించడం చేస్తే లేదా
ఆ మహిళ ఉపయోగించే ఇంటర్నెట్, ఇమెయిల్ లేదా ఇతర ఎలక్ట్రానిక్ కమ్యూనికేషన్ను గమనిస్తే,
అతను స్టాల్కింగ్ (Stalking) అనే నేరం చేస్తాడు.
అయితే, ఈ ప్రవర్తనను స్టాల్కింగ్గా పరిగణించకూడదు, ఒకవేళ పురుషుడు నిరూపించగలిగితే—
- ఇది నేరాన్ని నివారించడం లేదా గుర్తించేందుకు చేశాడని, మరియు ప్రభుత్వం అతనికి ఆ బాధ్యతను అప్పగించిందని; లేదా
- ఇది చట్ట ప్రకారం చేయబడిందని లేదా చట్టబద్ధమైన బాధ్యతల కోసం చేశాడని; లేదా
- ప్రత్యేక సందర్భాల్లో ఇది సమంజసమైనదిగా మరియు న్యాయమైనదిగా ఉందని.
శిక్ష:
- మొదటి నేరానికి మూడేళ్ల వరకు శిక్ష మరియు జరిమానా.
- రెండవ లేదా తదుపరి నేరానికి ఐదేళ్ల వరకు శిక్ష మరియు జరిమానా.
BNSS వర్గీకరణ:
- గుర్తించదగిన నేరం (Cognizable)
- మొదటి నేరానికి బెయిలుబుల్ (Bailable), కానీ తరువాత నేరానికి బెయిలు అర్హత లేదు (Non-bailable)
- ఏదైనా మేజిస్ట్రేట్ విచారణ చేయగలరు.
📗 Malayalam Translation (മലയാളം പരിഭാഷ)
ഒരു പുരുഷൻ,
ഒരു സ്ത്രീയുടെ വ്യക്തിഗത ഇടപഴകൽ പ്രോത്സാഹിപ്പിക്കാൻ, അവളുടെ വ്യക്തമായ അസമ്മതത്തെ അവഗണിച്ച് ആവർത്തിച്ചു ബന്ധപ്പെടുകയോ ശ്രമിക്കുകയോ ചെയ്യുകയാണെങ്കിൽ അല്ലെങ്കിൽ
സ്ത്രീയുടെ ഇന്റർനെറ്റ്, ഇമെയിൽ അല്ലെങ്കിൽ മറ്റ് ഇലക്ട്രോണിക് കമ്മ്യൂണിക്കേഷനുകൾ പിന്തുടരുകയാണെങ്കിൽ,
അവൻ സ്റ്റോക്കിംഗ് (Stalking) എന്ന കുറ്റം ചെയ്യുന്നവനാണ്.
എന്നാൽ, ഇതിന് നിലനിൽക്കുന്ന ചില അവകാശവാദങ്ങൾ ഉണ്ടാകാം, ഉദാഹരണത്തിന്—
- അതത് പ്രവർത്തനം ഒരു കുറ്റം തടയുകയോ കണ്ടെത്തുകയോ ചെയ്യുന്നതിനുള്ളതായിരുന്നു, കൂടാതെ ആ വ്യക്തിക്ക് നിയമപരമായി അത്തരം ഉത്തരവാദിത്വം നൽകപ്പെട്ടിരുന്നു; അഥവാ
- നിയമാനുസൃതമായ ഉത്തരവാദിത്വം നിറവേറ്റുന്നതിനായിരു; അഥവാ
- പ്രത്യേക സാഹചര്യങ്ങളിൽ അതു യുക്തിപൂർവ്വവുമായിരുന്നു.
ശിക്ഷ:
- ആദ്യമായി കുറ്റക്കാരനായി തെളിയിക്കപ്പെട്ടാൽ, മൂന്ന് വർഷം വരെ തടവും പിഴയും.
- രണ്ടാം അല്ലെങ്കിൽ തുടർന്നുള്ള കുറ്റത്തിൽ, അഞ്ച് വർഷം വരെ തടവും പിഴയും.
BNSS ശ്രേണീകരണം:
- അറസ്റ്റുചെയ്യാവുന്ന കുറ്റം (Cognizable)
- ആദ്യ കുറ്റത്തിന് ജാമ്യം ലഭിക്കും (Bailable), എന്നാൽ പിന്നീട് കുറ്റത്തിന് ജാമ്യം ലഭിക്കില്ല (Non-bailable)
- ഏതെങ്കിലും മജിസ്ട്രേറ്റിനാൽ വിചാരണ ചെയ്യാവുന്നതാണ്.
