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TypeBare Act JurisdictionCentral Government

Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, Section 7

Insertion of New Sections 354a, 354b, 354c and 354d

~3 min read
https://sooperkanoon.com/act/62306

Bare act section · Research

About this section

Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, Section 7 is part of Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, - Insertion of New Sections 354a, 354b, 354c and 354d. Read the section text below and explore Indian court judgments that cite it.

Research copy - verify against official government publications before filing or court use.

Section Text

After section 354 of the Penal Code, the following sections shall be inserted, namely:--

'354A. Sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment.--

(1) Aman committing any of the following acts--

(i) physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures; or

(ii) a demand or request for sexual favours; or

(iii) showing pornography against the will of a woman; or

(iv) making sexually coloured remarks, shall be guilty of the offence of sexual harassment.

(2) Any man who commits the offence specified in clause (i) or clause (ii) or clause (iii) of sub-section (1) shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.

(3) Any man who commits the offence specified in clause (iv) of sub-section (1) shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to one year, or with fine, or with both.

354B. Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe.--Any man who assaults or uses criminal force to any woman or abets such act with the intention of disrobing or compelling her to be naked, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

354C. Voyeurism.--Any man who watches, or captures the image of a woman engaging in a private act in circumstances where she would usually have the expectation of not being observed either by the perpetrator or by any other person at the behest of the perpetrator or disseminates such image shall be punished on first conviction with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than one year, but which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine, and be punished on a second or subsequent conviction, with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than three years, but which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Explanation 1.--For the purpose of this section, "private act" includes an act of watching carried out in a place which, in the circumstances, would reasonably be expected to provide privacy and where the victim's genitals, posterior or breasts are exposed or covered only in underwear; or the victim is using a lavatory; or the victim is doing a sexual act that is not of a kind ordinarily done in public.

Explanation 2. -- Where the victim consents to the capture of the images or any act, but not to their dissemination to third persons and where such image or act is disseminated, such dissemination shall be considered an offence under this section.

354D. Stalking.--

(1) Any man who--

(i) follows a woman and contacts, or attempts to contact such woman to foster personal interaction repeatedly despite a clear indication of disinterest by such woman; or

(ii) monitors the use by a woman of the internet, email or any other form of electronic communication,

commits the offence of stalking:

Provided that such conduct shall not amount to stalking if the man who pursued it proves that--

(i) it was pursued for the purpose of preventing or detecting crime and the man accused of stalking had been entrusted with the responsibility of prevention and detection of crime by the State; or

(ii) it was pursued under any law or to comply with any condition or requirement imposed by any person under any law; or

(iii) in the particular circumstances such conduct was reasonable and justified.

(2) Whoever commits the offence of stalking shall be punished on first conviction with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years, and shall also be liable to fine; and be punished on a second or subsequent conviction, with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to fine.'.

Frequently asked questions

What does Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, Section 7 provide?

Section Section 7 of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, (Insertion of New Sections 354a, 354b, 354c and 354d) is reproduced on this page as part of the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013,. Lawyers and researchers use it to read the statutory wording before checking how courts have applied this section in reported judgments.

How do I find judgments on Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, Section 7?

Open “Find citing judgments” on this page to search Supreme Court, High Court, and tribunal decisions that reference Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, Section 7. Advanced act search can narrow results by court, year, or additional act filters.

Is the section text on SooperKanoon official?

SooperKanoon hosts bare act text for research and quick reference. For filings or compliance in Central, confirm the wording against the official state gazette or authorized publication.

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