The Maharashtra government will constitute an expert committee to recommend stronger punitive provisions under existing laws to crack down on advertisements, hoardings, websites, and social media content that incite sexual offences, Minister Ashish Shelar told the State Assembly on Friday, 3 July. The announcement came in response to a non-government Bill tabled by MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar seeking a statutory ban on such content.

Government's Zero-Tolerance Stance

Minister Shelar stated that the government has adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards advertisements that portray women in an indecent manner, promote obscenity, or encourage sexual offences. He made clear that anyone disseminating obscene language, images, gestures, or content through public platforms would face strict action under the Constitution and the prevailing legal framework.

Existing Laws and Their Gaps

Shelar acknowledged that stringent provisions — including imprisonment and fines — already exist under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994, the Information Technology Act, and other relevant statutes. However, he noted that the penalties prescribed under the 1986 Act and the 1994 Cable Television Networks Rules are no longer proportionate to present-day realities and require revision. This is a significant admission — laws drafted decades before the social media era are being asked to govern an entirely different content landscape.

What the Expert Committee Will Do

The expert panel, once constituted, will formulate a balanced policy that safeguards freedom of expression while protecting the dignity of women and broader societal interests. The state government also intends to coordinate with the Centre to review and strengthen penal provisions under the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986 and the Cable Television Networks Rules, 1994, including enhancing penalties. The committee's recommendations are expected to bridge the gap between legacy legislation and the realities of digital-age content distribution.

Minister Shelar's Key Statement

'While advertisements are an integral part of society and the economy, they must promote positive values rather than encourage obscenity, moral degradation or sexual offences,' Minister Shelar said in the Assembly. He stressed that effective regulation of obscene and derogatory advertisements targeting women is essential to preserve social values and foster a healthy cultural environment.

What Happens Next

The state government is expected to begin constituting the expert committee and initiate formal dialogue with the Centre on legislative amendments. The move signals a broader push to modernise India's content-regulation architecture, particularly for digital and social media platforms, where enforcement has historically lagged behind the scale of the problem.