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What an arcane law! Section 66-A deals with messages sent via computer or communication devices which may be “grossly offensive,” have “menacing character,” or

What an arcane law! Section 66-A deals with messages sent via computer or communication devices which may be “grossly offensive,” have “menacing character,” or even cause “annoyance or inconvenience.” For offences under the section, a person can be fined and jailed up to three years. If you cause "annoyance" or "inconvenience" to someone, you can be fined or jailed up to three years! Edit - He has also clarified that he has just cited media reports and not made any new revelation. He just has 16 followers on Twitter. His arrest has got more to do with his involvement with IAC(India against Corruption) than anything else.

Deestan 14y ago
> If you cause "annoyance" or "inconvenience" to someone, you can be fined or jailed up to three years! Only if you do it via electronic communication. Books, leaflets, etc have no corresponding laws.
- sageikosa 14y ago
  If that is the extent of the law, then what is lacking is the concept of intent.
kamaal 14y ago
>>If you cause "annoyance" or "inconvenience" to someone, you can be fined or jailed up to three years! This doesn't even begin to describe ridiculous. Ever heard of IPC 498a? For those who don't what it is- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowry_law_in_India http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowry_law_in_India The law is such, you might even repent being a born a boy in India.
- damncabbage 14y ago
  (a) Any willful conduct which is of such a nature as is likely to drive the woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury or danger to life, limb or health whether mental or physical) of the woman; or (b) Harassment of the woman where such harassment is with a view to coercing her or any person related to her to meet any unlawful demand for any property or valuable security or is on account of failure by her or any person related to her meet such demand.[8] Could you elaborate on your objections to the above? I am not familiar with its use or misuse.
  - kamaal 14y ago
    If they apply it as is, I don't have a issue. The law is misused heavily. According to the law you can be incarcerated for at least 60 days, just on a complain. In other words you can be arrested just because a women complains, even if no evidence is found, or they don't even have to ask for evidence. The presumption of guilt prevails. You are presumed to be a offender. This law has been often used for near extortion scenarios. It works like this, since it covers the women of the husbands family. Often younger sister of the husband is arrested or his mother is arrested. He will be called to police station to part away his with his property, and generally the arrests are made on Friday's so that these people can stay in jail over the weekend until a bail application can be filed on Monday. Women are heavily abusing this law for money. Its like marry a guy, slap a 498a case. Get his family members behind bars(Often happens after bribing the policemen). In India its highly devastating to a persons morale, self respect and social status for him to go to jail or see female members of the family go to jail. Then what follows is a black mail and guy is forced to pay up. The law has been abused by the police and some women so much. From what I've heard, the judges look at every case like it might be fake. Read the Wikipedia link for details. Some more links on this. http://www.498a.org/ http://www.indianexpress.com/news/women-are-misusing-dowry-act-rules-court/574907 http://www.firstpost.com/fwire/law-commission-recommends-dilution-of-anti-dowry-law-188059.html Given the abuse the supreme court of India itself has recommend dilution of this law.
    - nodemaker 14y ago
      To be fair, the majority of men are pretty barbaric and do physically abuse women after marriage. They totally deserve a law like that. I have heard so many stories of brides getting physically and emotionally abused by their in-laws and husband that I pretty much consider it a part of our culture.
      - kamaal 14y ago
        We are not debating about offenders here. We are debating about the abuse of law used to extort money from innocent people.
- cafard 14y ago
  It might also be useful to give some background on how such a law came to be passed.
  - kamaal 14y ago
    Women are/were heavily oppressed in India, especially with regards to marriage. Girls and her parents are/were often forced to give a lot of dowry to get their girls married. There have been cases of dowry death, where women have been burned alive for not bringing in dowry. Couple by general backwardness and other kind of torture. This draconian law was passed. Of course their intention was good. But the law has be abused so badly, now even the true victims of dowry are suffering due to it.
  - known 14y ago
    India is fourth most dangerous place in the world for women. It is only a little better than war-ravaged Afghanistan and Congo. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-is-fourth-most-dangerous-place-in-the-world-for-women-poll/1/141639.html http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-is-fourth-most-dang...

Deestan 14y ago

> If you cause "annoyance" or "inconvenience" to someone, you can be fined or jailed up to three years! Only if you do it via electronic communication. Books, leaflets, etc have no corresponding laws.

sageikosa 14y ago
If that is the extent of the law, then what is lacking is the concept of intent.

kamaal 14y ago

>>If you cause "annoyance" or "inconvenience" to someone, you can be fined or jailed up to three years! This doesn't even begin to describe ridiculous. Ever heard of IPC 498a? For those who don't what it is- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowry_law_in_India http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dowry_law_in_India The law is such, you might even repent being a born a boy in India.

damncabbage 14y ago
(a) Any willful conduct which is of such a nature as is likely to drive the woman to commit suicide or to cause grave injury or danger to life, limb or health whether mental or physical) of the woman; or (b) Harassment of the woman where such harassment is with a view to coercing her or any person related to her to meet any unlawful demand for any property or valuable security or is on account of failure by her or any person related to her meet such demand.[8] Could you elaborate on your objections to the above? I am not familiar with its use or misuse.
- kamaal 14y ago
  If they apply it as is, I don't have a issue. The law is misused heavily. According to the law you can be incarcerated for at least 60 days, just on a complain. In other words you can be arrested just because a women complains, even if no evidence is found, or they don't even have to ask for evidence. The presumption of guilt prevails. You are presumed to be a offender. This law has been often used for near extortion scenarios. It works like this, since it covers the women of the husbands family. Often younger sister of the husband is arrested or his mother is arrested. He will be called to police station to part away his with his property, and generally the arrests are made on Friday's so that these people can stay in jail over the weekend until a bail application can be filed on Monday. Women are heavily abusing this law for money. Its like marry a guy, slap a 498a case. Get his family members behind bars(Often happens after bribing the policemen). In India its highly devastating to a persons morale, self respect and social status for him to go to jail or see female members of the family go to jail. Then what follows is a black mail and guy is forced to pay up. The law has been abused by the police and some women so much. From what I've heard, the judges look at every case like it might be fake. Read the Wikipedia link for details. Some more links on this. http://www.498a.org/ http://www.indianexpress.com/news/women-are-misusing-dowry-act-rules-court/574907 http://www.firstpost.com/fwire/law-commission-recommends-dilution-of-anti-dowry-law-188059.html Given the abuse the supreme court of India itself has recommend dilution of this law.
  - nodemaker 14y ago
    To be fair, the majority of men are pretty barbaric and do physically abuse women after marriage. They totally deserve a law like that. I have heard so many stories of brides getting physically and emotionally abused by their in-laws and husband that I pretty much consider it a part of our culture.
    - kamaal 14y ago
      We are not debating about offenders here. We are debating about the abuse of law used to extort money from innocent people.
cafard 14y ago
It might also be useful to give some background on how such a law came to be passed.
- kamaal 14y ago
  Women are/were heavily oppressed in India, especially with regards to marriage. Girls and her parents are/were often forced to give a lot of dowry to get their girls married. There have been cases of dowry death, where women have been burned alive for not bringing in dowry. Couple by general backwardness and other kind of torture. This draconian law was passed. Of course their intention was good. But the law has be abused so badly, now even the true victims of dowry are suffering due to it.
- known 14y ago
  India is fourth most dangerous place in the world for women. It is only a little better than war-ravaged Afghanistan and Congo. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-is-fourth-most-dangerous-place-in-the-world-for-women-poll/1/141639.html http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/india-is-fourth-most-dang...