Holding Woman’s Hand And Pulling Her While Expressing Love Outrages Modesty, Says Chhattisgarh HC

Last Updated:December 24, 2025, 17:42 IST

The court ruled that such behaviour by a young man towards a girl, particularly in a rural context, is 'highly objectionable'

The court observed that the intention of the accused is the crux of such matters. (Representational image)

The Chhattisgarh High Court has ruled that the act of a man holding a woman’s hand, pulling her towards him, and expressing love constitutes a criminal offence. Justice Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi, presiding over the case, held that such physical force, when coupled with unwelcome romantic overtures, squarely falls under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The case originated from an incident where the accused, who was 19 years old at the time, intercepted a girl as she was returning home from school. According to the prosecution, the appellant not only held the victim’s hand but also forcibly pulled her while saying, “I love you". The victim’s testimony, corroborated by her younger sister and a friend, stated that the act caused her significant fear and distress, leading her to seek refuge in a nearby mazar.

In its detailed order, the High Court explored the definition of “modesty", noting that while it is not explicitly defined in the IPC, it is universally understood as “womanly propriety of behaviour" and “scrupulous chastity of thought, speech, and conduct". The court observed that the intention of the accused is the crux of such matters. Justice Chandravanshi remarked that such behaviour by a young man towards a girl, particularly in a rural context, is “highly objectionable" and crosses the boundary from a mere expression of affection into criminal force intended to outrage modesty.

While the court upheld the conviction under Section 354 IPC, it notably set aside the conviction under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The bench found that the prosecution had failed to conclusively prove that the victim was a minor on the date of the incident, as no original school records or birth certificates were produced to verify her age. Consequently, the court modified the original three-year rigorous imprisonment sentence to one year, taking into account the appellant’s young age and the fact that the incident took place several years ago.

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