Section 73 BNS: Printing or publishing any matter relating to Court proceedings without permission

Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Section 73 BNS at a Glance

Section 73 BNS deals with printing or publishing any matter relating to Court proceedings without permission. It is bailable and cognizable, triable by any Magistrate.

Punishment

Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years.

Bailable ⓘCognizable ⓘNon-Compoundable ⓘ🏛️ Any Magistrate ⓘ

Section 73 BNS Bare Act Text

73. Printing or publishing any matter relating to Court proceedings without permission

Whoever prints or publishes any matter in relation to any proceeding before a Court with respect to an offence referred to in section 72 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.

Source: Section 73, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023

Section 73 BNS in Simple Words

Section 73 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) restricts the unauthorized reporting of certain sensitive court proceedings. It applies to any person who prints or publishes any matter in relation to a proceeding before a Court concerning an offence referred to in Section 72 BNS without first obtaining the permission of that Court.

For the offence to be made out, the printed or published material must relate to a Court proceeding regarding an offence covered by Section 72 BNS, and the publication must take place without the previous permission of the Court conducting that proceeding. However, the Explanation to Section 73 BNS sets out an express exception: printing or publishing the judgment of any High Court or the Supreme Court does not amount to an offence under this section.

A person who contravenes Section 73 BNS by printing or publishing such matter without previous Court permission shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Ingredients of Section 73 BNS

  • The accused printed or published matter
  • The matter related to a proceeding before a Court
  • The proceeding concerned an offence referred to in Section 72 BNS
  • Previous permission of that Court was not obtained

Punishment Under Section 73 BNS

Imprisonment

Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years.

Fine

Fine may be imposed in addition to imprisonment.

Bailable ⓘCognizable ⓘNon-Compoundable ⓘ🏛️ Any Magistrate ⓘ

Printing or publishing any matter relating to a Court proceeding for an offence referred to in Section 72 BNS without the previous permission of that Court is punishable with imprisonment of either description for up to two years and liability to fine.

Example of Section 73 BNS

Near Ranchi, Vikram runs a small local news website. He gets details of an ongoing Court proceeding involving an offence referred to in Section 72 BNS and uploads a story describing what was stated in Court. Rukhsana, who follows the case, shares the link widely, and Fatima, a court staff member, confirms that no prior permission for such publication was granted by that Court. Since Vikram published matter relating to that Court proceeding without previous permission, the act falls within this section.

When Section 73 BNS Does Not Apply

  • Publishing the judgment of a High Court
  • Publishing the judgment of the Supreme Court
  • Printing or publishing matter after obtaining previous permission of the Court
  • Publishing material not related to any proceeding before a Court

Previous Law (IPC)

Section 73 BNS corresponds to sub-section (3) of Section 228A IPC, which has been separated into a standalone section. The offence of printing or publishing any matter in relation to a Court proceeding regarding an offence referred to in Section 72 BNS without the previous permission of that Court, the exception in the Explanation for printing or publishing the judgment of any High Court or the Supreme Court, and the punishment of imprisonment of either description for up to two years and liability to fine remain unchanged in substance.

FAQs on Section 73 BNS

Can I publish details of a court case covered by Section 72 BNS without the court's permission?▼

No. Section 73 BNS says printing or publishing any matter relating to a court proceeding about an offence referred to in Section 72 BNS is an offence unless you have the previous permission of that Court. The section applies to both printing and publishing.

What has to be proved for an offence under Section 73 BNS?▼

It must be shown that a person printed or published some matter relating to a proceeding before a Court, and that the proceeding concerned an offence referred to in Section 72 BNS. It must also be shown that this was done without the previous permission of that Court.

What is the punishment for publishing court proceeding details without permission under Section 73 BNS?▼

Section 73 BNS provides punishment with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, and also liability to fine. The exact sentence, if any, depends on the facts and the Court's decision.

Is publishing a High Court or Supreme Court judgment itself an offence under Section 73 BNS?▼

No. The Explanation to Section 73 BNS clearly says that printing or publishing the judgment of any High Court or the Supreme Court does not amount to an offence under this section. This exception is stated in the bare text itself.

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Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified advocate for legal advice.

Sources: Bare Act Text, Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Last updated: 15 Oct 2026 ·