Whoever on the
ground of “untouchability” prevents any person -
(i) from
entering any place of public worship which is open to other persons professing
the same religion or any section thereof, as such person, or
(ii) 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(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 the other persons professing the same religion or any
section thereof, as such person,
shall
be punishable with imprisonment for a term from one month to six months and
also with fine from one hundred rupees to 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 development including Virashaivas, Ligayats, Adivassis, followers of
Brahmo, Prasthana, thana, Arya Samaj and the Swaminaryan Sampraday shall be
deemed to be Hindus.
