New Tamil Nadu Sexual Harassment Bill: Key Changes from old to new
The Hindu
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister introduces bill to amend harassment laws, proposing stricter penalties and protection orders for women.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin tabled a Bill in the Tamil Nadu Assembly to amend the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women (Amendment) Act, 1998 on January 10, 2024. The Bill seeks to incorporate Section 7C, enabling the issuance of “protection orders” to restrain accused individuals from contacting women they have allegedly harassed.
The bill can help prohibit all forms of communication like personal, oral, written, electronic, telephonic, or indirect if requested by the aggrieved person. The proposed amendment also aims to to include harassment through digital and electronic means.
The new bill has been introduced following an alleged sexual assault of a 19-year-old student at Chennai’s Anna University in December 2024. The bill also aims to increase penalties ensuring stricter action against those committing crimes punishable under Sections 74-79 or Section 296 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
Old Law: Imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than 1 year, but which may extend to 5 years, and shall also be liable to a fine
New Proposal: Imprisonment of either description for not less than 3 years, but which may extend to 5 years with a fine.
Old Law: Rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend up to 3 years, or with a fine, or both.
New Proposal: Rigorous imprisonment for 5 years, and a fine
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