INDECENT REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN

The term indecent representation basically means publishing or distributing a woman as a

material depiction or anything that is published seems derogatory or defamation to the dignity
of a woman.
In order to prevent such things from happening, the Government of India decided to launch a
statute to uphold the decency of all women citizens in the country.
In 1986, Rajya Sabha passed a bill against the indecency of a woman which was in demand
as there were instances of derogatory deception of women across the country, the bill came
into effect from October 1986.
In the recent times, there has been need to update and regulate the same law as the world had
turned from newspapers to a social media, advertisements, portrayal of women has increased,
objectification of women folks has increased immensely, so there was a new law to be made
in order to safeguard women against the indecency they are being received by.1

The indecent representation of women (prohibition) Act 1986 was amended in the year 2012,
and this new changes in the law. The new Amended bill seeks to prohibit the indecent
advertisement or publication representation of women but it primarily has focused on the
print media industry, and it has been stated that they will be punishable under the Indecent
Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 19862. The amendment has increased the scope
of the act by covering a wide range of new forms of communication which includes the
satellite-based communications, televisions, advertisements on radios, internet etc.

Also, the bill prohibits the publication of any kind of indecent representation of women. But
there’s an exception to the same, where this provision will not be applicable if it’s in the
interest of science, literature or any kind art which has the bona fide of religious purpose, or
any existing cultural sculptures, or any kind of monuments and temples will not be under the
amendment.3
1
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/maneka-gandhi-to-push-amendment-on-indecent-representation-of-
women-bill-heres-what-it-states-5206320/
2
https://feminisminindia.com/2017/02/09/indecent-representation-women/
3
https://wcd.nic.in/act/indecent-representation-women#:~:text=THE%20INDECENT%20REPRESENTATION
%20OF%20WOMEN,connected%20therewith%20or%20incidental%20thereto.

1
The bill has added a new definition which speaks about the indecent representation of
women, which also consists of electronic form or in the business of publishing, it is forbidden
by the law to give derogatory remarks about women as it is found in decent representation of
a woman. Also it basically means that they are depriving women of their dignity and doing so
will also mean that their public morality decreases. Here, electronic form means any kind of
information sent by anyone, data stored, media saved by someone, and any of these data
seems to be insulting or derogating any women, then it basically means they are going to be
punished under the new amendment of this Act.4

 Also, if any kind of derogatory remarks are found or evidenced by the police office, no
matter what their officer rank is, they have the rights to investigate the same and have the
authority under this law. Also, this bill has enhanced the penalties for the guilty found people,
according to the law, the penalty for the first time being caught in the act of indecency of
women representation, they will be imprisoned for two to three years and they ought to pay
the fine between fifty thousand rupees to one lakh rupees. And any more offences made after
their first, they will be imprisoned for at least five years which can lead up to seven years of
jail time, and they will also be penalised with fine between one lakh rupees to five lakh
rupees5.

We can conclude with the fact that with the amendment in the bill, it will decrease the
number of offenders and the number of repeat offenders will be reduced too. Also, with the
new law, women are seen as individuals and have their own rights and dignity, and if anyone
tries to mess with it, the law makes sure that the person is punished accordingly.

4
https://www.prsindia.org/billtrack/the-indecent-representation-of-women-prohibition-amendment-bill-
2012-2576
5
https://thewire.in/women/indecent-depiction-women-digital-platforms-punishable