New Delhi: Newly enacted criminal laws have come under intense scrutiny from legal professionals, journalists, and experts, who argue that these laws were passed without adequate debate and review. Prominent journalist and television anchor Rajdeep Sardesai has voiced particular concern over a specific section related to sexual harassment, which he believes is susceptible to misuse.
In a recent post on social media platform X, Sardesai highlighted a new provision stating that individuals who engage in sexual relations under pretenses—such as false promises of employment or marriage—could face imprisonment of up to ten years and a fine. Sardesai warned of the “huge scope of misuse” of this law, suggesting it could criminalize even consensual relationships.
New criminal laws come into effect from today. Here is one new law to be concerned about: ‘individuals who engage in sexual relations by deceit, such as false promises of employment or marriage without intention to fulfill them, could face imprisonment of up to 10 years,…
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) July 1, 2024
“New criminal laws came into effect today. Here is one new law to be concerned about: ‘Individuals who engage in sexual relations by deceit, such as false promises of employment or marriage without intention to fulfill them, could face imprisonment of up to 10 years accompanied by a fine.’ Think about the huge scope of misuse of such a law and what it might do to criminalize even consensual relationships,” Sardesai posted.
Passing new laws in a democratic society typically involves multiple stages of review and debate to ensure they are fair, effective, and resistant to abuse. This includes drafting and proposing the law, committee reviews, legislative debates, and potential amendments based on feedback. The goal is to address any concerns or gaps before the law is enacted.
Critics argue that the recent criminal laws did not undergo this thorough process, leading to provisions that might be ambiguous and open to misuse
