Stronger punishment for indecent portrayal of women in offing

New Delhi: People found guilty of indecent portrayal of women through print or multimedia could soon face more penalty, including an enhanced jail term, and a hefty fine.

The Union Cabinet is likely to consider a proposal of the Women and Child Development Ministry tomorrow to amend the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986. Besides more penalties, including an enhanced jail term, the proposal also seeks to define the meaning of the term "publish" as the definition was ambiguous in nature.

It expands the definition of the word 'publish' to include preparing and making content available for the print and the electronic media. The act of indecent portrayal of women through the print and the electronic media will under the amended law be punishable with a fine of Rs 50,000 and a jail term of upto three years.

If a person is convicted for more than once for the offence, a penalty between Rs one lakh and five lakh has been proposed with a jail term between two to seven years. The original Act relates to the print media and prohibited indecent portrayal of women through advertisement, publication, writing and painting.