Sending MMS is offence now
12 Oct 2012 8:25 AM IST
In a landmark move, the union cabinet on Thursday approved amendments to the Indecent Representation of Women [Prohibition] Act [IRWA], 1986, increasing the amount of penalty to be imposed on people found guilty.
An official statement said, 'The amendments broaden the scope of the law to cover the audio-visual media and material in electronic form.' If passed, the act will prohibit the circulation or forwarding of obscene MMS, emails or videos, which could land the accused in jail for up to three years with a fine between Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh for the first conviction. The imprisonment period will be not less than two years and could be extended up to seven years and a fine between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh could be imposed for the second conviction.
Police officers not below the rank of inspectors are authorised to carry out search and seizure, in addition to state and central government officers authorised by the state or central government, it said.
Through these changes, the government hopes to address 'the problem of increased objectification of women thereby ensuring dignity of women'.
'The existing Act, in its present form, covers the print media. However, over the years, technological revolution has resulted in the development of newer forms of communication, such as internet and satellite based communication, multi-media messaging, cable television, etc. It has, therefore, become imperative to widen the scope of the law so as to cover such forms of media, on one hand, and to strengthen the existing safeguards to prevent indecent representation of women through any such form,' said the government release.
An official statement said, 'The amendments broaden the scope of the law to cover the audio-visual media and material in electronic form.' If passed, the act will prohibit the circulation or forwarding of obscene MMS, emails or videos, which could land the accused in jail for up to three years with a fine between Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh for the first conviction. The imprisonment period will be not less than two years and could be extended up to seven years and a fine between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh could be imposed for the second conviction.
Police officers not below the rank of inspectors are authorised to carry out search and seizure, in addition to state and central government officers authorised by the state or central government, it said.
Through these changes, the government hopes to address 'the problem of increased objectification of women thereby ensuring dignity of women'.
'The existing Act, in its present form, covers the print media. However, over the years, technological revolution has resulted in the development of newer forms of communication, such as internet and satellite based communication, multi-media messaging, cable television, etc. It has, therefore, become imperative to widen the scope of the law so as to cover such forms of media, on one hand, and to strengthen the existing safeguards to prevent indecent representation of women through any such form,' said the government release.
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