Outraging the modesty of a woman
(section 354 of the I.P.C.)

What is it?

A person commits the offence when he - assaults a woman, uses criminal force on her, intends to outrage her modesty or knowing that by doing so he is likely to outrage her modesty.

For Example- Embracing a woman without her consent, stripping/removing the clothes of a woman without her consent, kissing a woman without her consent, touching/playing with her private parts without her consent.

Punishment

Imprisonment upto 2 years/fine/or both. The offence of outraging the modesty of a woman id cognizable, bailable and compoundable- by the woman whose modesty was outraged with the permission of the court.

Triable by:

Metropolitan Magistrate/Judicial Magistrate First Class/Judicial Magistrate second class

Who can file a F.I.R.?

Anyone can file a F.I.R in the police station.

What has to be proved in the court?

Two things have to be proved:

• Action- that the accused assaulted the woman or used criminal force on the woman.
• Intention/Knowledge- that the act was done with the intention of outraging the woman’s modesty or with the knowledge that by doing so he was likely to outrage her modesty.