Kerala excise commissioner Rishiraj Singh’s statement that a man who stares at a woman for over 14 seconds can be booked has triggered a debate in the state.
Addressing a public function organised by students in Kochi on Sunday, he had said, “Most of us don’t know that an FIR can be registered against a man who stares continuously at a woman for more than 14 seconds. But not a single case has been registered in the state on this count.”
Lamenting the increase in number of crimes against women in the state, the top excise officer urged the girls to be proactive. He asked them to react instantly if anyone passed lewd comments or touched them inappropriately. He also exhorted them to follow up vigorously all crimes committed against them.
However, his 14-second ogle remark has not gone down well with many.
State sports minister EP Jayarajan pulled up the commissioner, saying his comment was in bad taste and asked him to brush up his law lessons.
“I don’t know from where he got this piece of information. He is trying to quote a law that is non-existent,” he said.
Legal experts also supported the minister saying that there was no such provision to book a person for merely staring and ogling. “There is no provision to book anyone for mere staring. If a man with his words, gestures or acts intends to insult the modesty of a woman, he can be booked under Section 509 of IPC,” said senior advocate CP Udayabhanu.
Netizens also had a field day trolling the commissioner. Nobody has an idea why the commissioner put a cut-off time of 14 seconds. “What about men who stare at women for 13 seconds,” a troller has a genuine doubt. “What about men who wear sunglasses,” another asked.
{{/usCountry}}Netizens also had a field day trolling the commissioner. Nobody has an idea why the commissioner put a cut-off time of 14 seconds. “What about men who stare at women for 13 seconds,” a troller has a genuine doubt. “What about men who wear sunglasses,” another asked.
{{/usCountry}}“Next time, I will keep a timer while talking to a girl. Otherwise, I will be in trouble,” said another troll. “We are used to staring and ogling. If this is true, I can file at least a dozen FIRs a day,” said Ruchika, a college student.