'Misconduct and Indecency, Not Voyeurism': Bombay HC Quashes Case Against Man

Strict Interpretation of Penal Statutes

The Bombay High Court recently quashed criminal proceedings against a man who was booked for 'staring at a female colleague's chest' during office meetings. The FIR was registered under Section 354C of the IPC, which deals specifically with the offense of voyeurism.

The Court observed that while the accused's behavior was undoubtedly 'misconduct and indecency,' it did not fulfill the strict statutory ingredients of voyeurism. Section 354C requires the act of capturing or observing a woman engaging in a private act where she would usually have an expectation of privacy, which does not apply to a formal meeting setting.