Section 161: Prohibition of purchasing, selling or distributing goods or service with discrimination

1) No person, in purchasing, selling or distributing any goods or services, shall purchase, sell or distribute such goods or services from or to only any person belonging to any particular caste, race or community or omit to provide, sell or distribute such goods or services to any person belonging to any particular caste, race or community.

Provided that where a person, with the approval of the competent authority under law, provides, sells or distributes any particular goods or services to only any person belonging to any particular caste, race or community, for the protection of interest and development of a class which is economically, socially or educationally backward, such person shall not be considered to have committed the offence under this Section.

2) A person who commits, or causes to be committed, the offence referred to in sub-section (1) shall be liable to a sentence of imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding ten thousand rupees or both the sentences.