Whoever assaults or uses criminal force to any woman, intending to outrage or knowing it to be likely that he will there by outrage her modesty, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than one year but which may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to fine1.
1 Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013
IPC Section 354: Simplified Explanation
IPC Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code deals with the offence of “assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty.” This section applies when an individual assaults or uses criminal force against a woman to outrage her modesty. The key aspect of this section is the intention behind the act, which must be to outrage the woman’s modesty.
Key elements of this section include:
- Assault or Criminal Force: The person must commit an act of assault (as defined under IPC Section 351) or use criminal force (as defined under IPC Section 350) against a woman.
- Intent to Outrage Modesty: The act must be carried out to outrage the woman’s modesty.
Is IPC Section 354 Bailable?
IPC Section 354 is a non-bailable offence. Given the serious nature of the offence, which involves an intention to outrage the modesty of a woman through the use of force or assault, the accused must appear before a court to seek bail.
IPC Section 354 Punishment
The Punishment under IPC Section 354 for assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty includes:
- Imprisonment for a term that may extend to five years,
- And also liable to a fine.
The Punishment reflects the serious nature of the offence and the need to protect the dignity and safety of women.
Example of IPC Section 354
A real-life example of IPC Section 354 involved a case where a man inappropriately touched a woman on a public bus to outrage her modesty. The woman reported the incident to the police, and the man was arrested and charged under IPC Section 354. The court found the man guilty and sentenced him to imprisonment and a fine. This case highlighted the legal measures to protect women from acts intended to outrage their modesty and the consequences of such actions.
In another instance, a woman was walking home when a man attempted to grab her and made lewd comments. She managed to escape and reported the incident. The man was later apprehended and charged under IPC Section 354 for his actions. This case underscored the seriousness with which the law treats offences involving the intent to outrage the modesty of women and the legal recourse available to victims of such offences.
