The Department of Social Security Women and Child Development Punjab has raised serious concerns over multiple instances of obscene and derogatory portrayal of women in advertisements and media content. The department has warned media platforms to refrain from such activities or face strict legal consequences.
In clear directives issued to all TV channels, websites, web-based applications, newspapers, and other audio-visual platforms, the department instructed that no content depicting women in an obscene or derogatory manner should be telecast, published, or printed. The cases will now be periodically reviewed at the state level to ensure compliance.
Citing the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986, which strictly prohibits indecent depiction of women in any form, Punjab’s Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, Dr Baljeet Kaur, directed strict administrative vigilance across the state.
The minister has instructed all District Programme Officers to take suo motu cognizance of such violations and initiate prompt legal action in coordination with the police authorities. Deputy Commissioners have also been directed to conduct periodic reviews of such cases at the district level to ensure effective enforcement.
The move underscores the Punjab government’s commitment to safeguarding women’s dignity and promoting responsible advertising standards across media platforms.
