New Tamil Nadu Sexual Harassment Bill: Key Changes from old to new

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin speaks during a session of the state Legislative Assembly, in Chennai, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025. Stalin introduced the amendment bill to increase penalties for crimes against 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.

Here’s the difference between old and new laws:

Offence: Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modest

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.

Offence: Sexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment

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

Offence: Assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe

Old Law: Imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than 3 years, but which may extend to 7 years, and shall also be liable to a fine.

New Proposal: Imprisonment for not less than 5 years, but which may extend to 10 years, and a fine.

Offence: Voyeurism

Old Law: Imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than 1 year, but which may extend to 3 years, and shall also be liable to a fine.

New Proposal: Imprisonment of either description for not less than 2 years, but which may extend to 5 years, and a fine.

Offence: Voyeurism – Second or subsequent conviction

Old Law: Imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than 3 years, but which may extend to 7 years, and shall also be liable to a fine

New Proposal: Imprisonment of either description for not less than five years, but which may extend to 10 years, and a fine

Offence: Stalking

Old Law: Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to 3 years, and shall also be liable to a fine

New Proposal: Imprisonment for up to 5 years, and a fine.

Offence: Stalking – Second or subsequent conviction

Old Law: Imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to 5 years, and shall also be liable to a fine

New Proposal: Imprisonment for up to 7 years, and a fine.

Offence: Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid, etc.

Old Law: Imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than 10 years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and with a fine.

New Proposal: Rigorous imprisonment for life, which shall mean rigorous imprisonment for the remainder of the person’s natural life and a fine, or death.

Offence: Voluntarily throwing or attempting to throw acid

Old Law: Imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than 5 years, but which may extend to 7 years, and shall also be liable to a fine.

New Proposal: Imprisonment of either description for not less than 10 years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and a fine.

The Bills are likely to be taken up for consideration on January 11.

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