Amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971
The Indian government has introduced an amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, in the Rajya Sabha. This amendment aims to criminalize any insult to the national song "Vande Mataram," equating its protection to that of the national anthem "Jana Gana Mana."
Data on Violations and Legal Proceedings
- Data Overview: The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has provided data on violations of this act since 2014.
- Number of Cases:
- A total of 699 cases were reported from 2014 to 2024, averaging 64 cases per year.
- The highest number of cases in a single year was 87 in 2022.
- In 2024, there were 57 cases reported.
- Pendency:
- An average of 48 cases were pending investigation annually.
- An average of 221 cases were pending trial each year.
- In 2024, 53 cases were pending investigation, and 358 were pending trial.
- Chargesheets and Arrests:
- The chargesheeting rate decreased over the years, falling to 36.5% in 2024.
- A total of 1,102 people were arrested from 2014 to 2024, with 59 arrests in 2024.
- Trials and Convictions:
- The number of cases sent to trial averaged 43 per year, with a peak of 52 in 2017.
- Acquittals consistently outnumbered convictions every year.
- In 2024, 6 convictions were made against 25 acquittals.
- Over 11 years, only 44 cases led to convictions, compared to 105 acquittals.
- Pendency Rate:
- The pendency rate of cases was above 90% in all but two years.
- In 2024, the pendency rate reached 95.2%.
