Mumbai, July 3 (IANS) The Maharashtra government will constitute an expert committee to recommend stringent punitive provisions under existing laws to curb advertisements, hoardings, websites and social media content that incite sexual offences, said Minister Ashish Shelar in the State Assembly on Friday.

He was replying to MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar who had tabled a non-government Bill seeking to prohibit advertisements, hoardings, websites and social media content that incite sexual offences.

Responding to the discussion, Minister Shelar said that the government stance is extremely strict and has adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards advertisements that portray women in an indecent manner, promote obscenity, or encourage sexual offences.

He emphasised that anyone disseminating obscene language, images, gestures, or content through public platforms would face strict action under the Constitution and the existing legal framework.

The Minister also noted that stringent provisions, including imprisonment and fines, already exist under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, the Cable Television Networks Rules, the Information Technology Act, and other relevant laws to deal with obscene material, indecent representation of women and the transmission of obscene content through electronic media.

However, Minister Shelar said that the penalties prescribed under the 1986 Act and the 1994 Cable Television Networks Rules are no longer commensurate with present-day realities and need to be increased.

He added that the state government will coordinate with the Central government to review and strengthen the penal provisions under the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, and the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994, including enhancing the penalties.

Minister Shelar also announced that an expert committee will be constituted to formulate a balanced policy that safeguards freedom of expression while protecting societal interests and the dignity of women.

“While advertisements are an integral part of society and the economy, they must promote positive values rather than encourage obscenity, moral degradation or sexual offences,” the Minister said.

He stressed that effective regulation of obscene and derogatory advertisements targeting women is essential to preserve social values and foster a healthy cultural environment.

–IANS

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