F*** off sexually coloured remark, not used in Indian society: Delhi Court in sexual harassment case

“In Indian society, schools or colleges, this word is not used to ask anyone to leave or go away. Moreover, given the facts and circumstances of the incident, it cannot be said that the petitioner was merely intending to ask the complainant to leave or go away. In ordinary sense, the said word is abusive, offensive and humiliating,” the court said.

The lawyer for the accused told the court that his client did not make any sexually coloured remarks and said this word is generally used in society, colleges and universities. He also contented the meaning of the said word is defined in Cambridge Dictionary (UK) as “… To leave or go away, used specially as a rude way of telling someone to go away…” He said the petitioner merely asked the complainant to leave the premises by saying the said word.

The prosecution contended that the word ‘f*** off’ is a sexually coloured remark and must be construed in its ordinary sense. It contended that the “petitioner along with other persons entered into the woman’s house and threatened her and her family to throw them out”. The prosecutor said they also addressed the complainant as ‘bazaru aurat’ and that there was sufficient material to proceed against the petitioner.

In August, a Mahila Court had framed charges against the accused under IPC sections 354A (sexual harassment), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation).