Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar on Friday said the state government will set up an expert committee to recommend stricter penal provisions against advertisements, hoardings, websites and social media content that promote sexual crimes or depict women in an obscene manner.
Replying to a private member's bill moved by BJP's Sudhir Mungantiwar in the assembly, Shelar said the government has adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards advertisements encouraging obscenity, indecent representation of women or sexual offences.
He said existing laws, including Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act 1986, the Cable Television Networks Rules 1994, and the Information Technology Act, already provide for imprisonment and fines against such offences.
However, the penalties prescribed under the 1986 Act and the 1994 rules have become inadequate in the present context and need to be enhanced, the minister said.
Shelar said the state government will coordinate with the Centre to review and strengthen the penal provisions under these laws.
An expert committee will also be constituted to frame a balanced policy that protects women's dignity and public interest while safeguarding freedom of expression, he informed the House.
"Advertisements should promote positive social values and not encourage obscenity or behaviour that could incite sexual crimes," he said while stressing the need for effective regulation of content that demeans women or undermines social values.
