Citations: Women Harassment Cases under 354 and 354 (A)
- State of Maharashtra v. Madhukar Narayan Mardikar (1991), which is commonly referred to as the “Mardikar Case.” In this case, the accused was a government servant who had allegedly passed vulgar remarks to a woman, which were considered offensive and a violation of her modesty. The case discussed the interpretation and application of sections 354 and 354A of the IPC.
In this judgment, the Supreme Court of India emphasized the need to protect the dignity of women and stated that even verbal or non-physical conduct that is sexually colored can amount to an offense under these sections if it is intended to insult the modesty of a woman. The court discussed the broader scope of these provisions and highlighted the importance of maintaining a safe and respectful environment for women. - Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan (1997): While not directly related to sections 354 and 354A, this landmark case led to the formulation of guidelines to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace, which can be considered relevant in cases involving offenses against women’s modesty.
- Sakshi v. Union of India (2004): This case dealt with the issue of the distribution of sexually explicit material and its impact on women’s rights. The court discussed the importance of regulating content that is derogatory to women’s dignity.
- Rupan Deol Bajaj v. K.P.S. Gill (1996): This case involved an incident where a woman bureaucrat was allegedly molested at an official party. The judgment emphasized the need to protect women’s dignity and highlighted the significance of gender equality.
- State of Punjab v. Major Singh (2013): In this case, the accused was charged with attempting to disrobe a woman. The court clarified the scope of sections 354 and 354A and discussed the factors to consider when determining whether the offense was committed.
- Satish Mehra v. Delhi Administration (1996): This case dealt with a woman’s complaint of being molested by a co-passenger in a bus. The court discussed the importance of safeguarding women’s dignity and recognized the broader implications of such offenses