Himanshi Dhawan & Mahendra Kumar Singh, TNN | Oct 11, 2012, 12.16AM IST
NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Thursday is likely to consider amendments to the law governing indecent portrayal of women, aiming to make life tougher for those who forward pornographic MMSs or emails by increasing fines, jail terms and including electronic content within the ambit of the legislation.
If the changes moved by the ministry of women and child development to the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 are approved, the fine will be increased from Rs 2,000 to a minimum of Rs 50,000 going up to Rs 1 lakh and the prison term will go up from two years to a maximum of three years. The law will be updated for the first time in 26 years to include electronic content, keeping in view the proliferation of smart phones, computers and other electronic devices.
Besides enhanced penalties, the proposal also seeks to define the meaning of the term "publish" to include preparing and making content available for the print and the electronic media. The original Act only covered the print media and prohibited indecent portrayal of women through advertisement, publication, writing or painting.
The WCD ministry has also expanded the definition of indecent representation of women to include "depiction of women as a sexual object, which appeals to the prurient interest". The new definition makes the intent of the portrayal specific.
The existing Act defines indecent portrayal as depiction of the figure, form, body or any part of a woman which denigrates women or is likely to injure public morality. The proposed amendment, once approved, will empower police officer of inspector and above rank to conduct search and seizure. At present, only officers authorized by the state government can conduct search and seizure. This additional change will ensure better enforcement of the proposed law.
Link: Soon, 3 years jail for porn MMSs, indecent emails
If the changes moved by the ministry of women and child development to the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 are approved, the fine will be increased from Rs 2,000 to a minimum of Rs 50,000 going up to Rs 1 lakh and the prison term will go up from two years to a maximum of three years. The law will be updated for the first time in 26 years to include electronic content, keeping in view the proliferation of smart phones, computers and other electronic devices.
Besides enhanced penalties, the proposal also seeks to define the meaning of the term "publish" to include preparing and making content available for the print and the electronic media. The original Act only covered the print media and prohibited indecent portrayal of women through advertisement, publication, writing or painting.
The WCD ministry has also expanded the definition of indecent representation of women to include "depiction of women as a sexual object, which appeals to the prurient interest". The new definition makes the intent of the portrayal specific.
The existing Act defines indecent portrayal as depiction of the figure, form, body or any part of a woman which denigrates women or is likely to injure public morality. The proposed amendment, once approved, will empower police officer of inspector and above rank to conduct search and seizure. At present, only officers authorized by the state government can conduct search and seizure. This additional change will ensure better enforcement of the proposed law.
Link: Soon, 3 years jail for porn MMSs, indecent emails
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