Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter XVII: Of Offences against Property · Of criminal trespass
Section 329: Criminal trespass and house-trespass
In plain words
Criminal trespass is entering property in someone else's possession to commit an offence or to intimidate, insult or annoy the person in possession, or staying there unlawfully with that intent after entering lawfully. It is punishable with up to three months in prison, or a fine up to five thousand rupees, or both.
- House-trespass is criminal trespass into a building, tent or vessel used as a home, a place of worship, or a place to keep property. It is punishable with up to one year, or a fine up to five thousand rupees, or both.
- Putting any part of the body inside is enough to count as entering.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
(1) Whoever enters into or upon property in the possession of another with intent to commit an offence or to intimidate, insult or annoy any person in possession of such property or having lawfully entered into or upon such property, unlawfully remains there with intent thereby to intimidate, insult or annoy any such person or with intent to commit an offence is said to commit criminal trespass.
(2) Whoever commits criminal trespass by entering into or remaining in any building, tent or vessel used as a human dwelling or any building used as a place for worship, or as a place for the custody of property, is said to commit house-trespass.
Explanation.—The introduction of any part of the criminal trespasser's body is entering sufficient to constitute house-trespass.
(3) Whoever commits criminal trespass shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both.
(4) Whoever commits house-trespass shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both.
Corresponding sections were matched by comparing the wording of both official texts, and for the IPC and BNS, also against a published correspondence table. Wording, punishments and structure often changed, so read both sections before relying on the match.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 25 August 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 329
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.