J&K Becomes First State to Have a Law Banning ‘Sextortion’

J&K has become the first state to have a law banning sexual exploitation of women by those in positions of authority

Jammu and Kashmir has become the first state in the country to have a law banning sexual exploitation of women by those in positions of authority.

(Photo: Erum Gour/The Quint)

Jammu and Kashmir has become the first state in the country to have a law specifically banning and punishing sexual exploitation of women by persons in positions of authority, who have a fiduciary relationship or who are public servants.

On Friday, 14 December, the State Administrative Council (SAC) under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik approved the ‘Prevention of Corruption (Amendment) Bill, 2018’ and the ‘Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018’, an official spokesman said.

The Jammu and Kashmir Criminal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2018 seeks to amend the Ranbir Penal Code, whereby a specific offence under section 354E is being inserted to provide for the offence of ‘Sextortion’, he said.

Amendments are being made in sections 154 and 161 and the Schedule of the Criminal Procedure Code as well as section 53A of the Evidence Act, so as to bring ‘sextortion’ at par with similar offences prescribed under Ranbir Penal Code.

An amendment is also being made to the Prevention of Corruption Act to amend the definition of misconduct and provide that a demand for sexual favours would also constitute misconduct within the meaning of section 5 of that Act, the spokesman added.