20 Ridiculous Indian laws that should be changed
20 Ridiculous Indian laws that should be changed
The Indian Penal Code is the base for laws in India. However, thousands of Acts and constitutional provisions makes the game of law a lot more complicated than we imagine. And then there is the sloppy judiciary procedure which is famous for stretching cases as far as 30-40 years. In addition to that, there are some laws which are absurd and remains unchanged for over two centuries! They are now not needed and sound absolute rubbish.
Here is a list of 20 such Indian Laws that needs to be changed immediately.
Click next to see the first law
Indian Motor Vehicles Act, 1914
The ridiculous statement of Indian Motor Vehicles Act, 1914 applies to the state of Andhra Pradesh. If you want to become an Inspector, you should have shining teeth! Yes, the criteria to become an Andhra Pradesh motor vehicle inspector is “well brushed teeth”
Why? What’s the logic behind that a Paan addict be an Inspector?
Click next to see the Telegraphy Act
Indian Telegraph Act, 1885
Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 is another law that no one thought of changing. This law allows the Government of India to keep control of people by tapping telegraphy across the country and beyond to prevent rebellions. This was brought by British and now holds no significance because who the hell uses Telegraphy to plan terror attacks!
Fun fact: Telegram Department was officially closed in India since 2013 and last telegram was send to Rahul Gandhi but this law still exists!
Click next to see Internet Censorship
Internet Censorship
This is one of the laws that needs to be clearly defined and then presented. The Internet inception in India brought a great boom but its laws still lacks clarity. 39 websites were blocked in 2013 for sharing offensive and obscene, even pornographic images with the internet users and 857 were further blocked in 2015. That did not stopped the pornographic content to spread and how will it prevent rape is beyond understanding.
Click next to see puzzling Adultery Law!
Adultery Law
Adultery historically has been a punishable offence and in some cultures it has been subjected to death. In India, a married man can be sentenced to jail for adultery with a married woman if reported, the women can go around having as many extra marital affairs as they like without being pointed a finger at by the law. A married man cannot be prosecuted if he has a affair with an unmarried woman. In addition to that, adultery is a major ground for divorce for both sexes. Who made such a law where there is absolutely no equality? One should file a petition against it!
Click next to see the Indian Post office’s ancient law
Indian Post Office Act, 1898
This is one of the craziest laws in India that still exists. According to it the letter deliveries can only be made by the post office of India and any other services will be seen as non legal. In short, only Indian government can deliver letters. According to it, delivery by Flipkart, Snapdeal is illegal!
Click next to see the most protested law
Section 377
This is famously referred as the homosexuality law of India which sees homosexuality as an act against the order of the nature, snatching away the very basic right to choose one’s partner irrespective of the gender. It has been protested heavily by the LGBT community and there has been endless debates. Supreme Court still remains resolute for Section 377.
Click next to see the drinking age dilemma
Drinking Age
There is a lot of variation in the drinking laws in India. In states like Goa the legal drinking age is 18, in states like Rajasthan the legal drinking age is 21 and in states like Maharashtra the legal drinking age is 25! Apparently, you are mature enough to elect a government at 18 but you are still young when it comes to consumption of alcohol!
Click next to see the Marriage act!
Hindu Marriage Act, 1955
Hindu Mrriage Act of 1955 is yet another stupid and controversial law. It says that the legal marriage age for a girl is 18 years and the legal marriage age for boys is 21 years. Another law states that a girl can have sexual relations at age of 16! Even if we consider ourselves as a socially conventional society, how can someone justify this double standard law? Moreover, it is worst for men because they can elect government at 18 years but can’t start a family of their own!
Click next to see the Adoption law
Adoption Law
The Indian Majority Act, 1875 allows men to be able to adopt a child at the age of 18. At the age of 18!!! At the age of 18 a boy is not allowed to marry or even drink in some states. If he is not allowed to marry, it signifies that he is incapable of starting a family. But Government thinks that he can adopt a child and then do so! What is wrong with them?
Click next to see the Penalty for Child!
Penalty for Third Child
It was a popular belief that China was the only nation that fined its citizen for having more than one child. Well, it is not. In the state of Kerala, if you have two children and you have a third one, you are to be fined by the Government and you have to pay Rs 10,000. This is a population control law. We do have a small China in the southern India!
Click next to see the semi Martial Law of India!
Prevention of Seditious Meetings Act, 1911
According to this Act, no public meeting or discussion of any subject likely to cause disturbance or public excitement or for the exhibition or distribution of any writing or printed matter relating to any such subject is punishable. According to this law, it is illegal for more than 10 couples to dance together on a dance floor! You have to get a permission from the magistrate or the police three days before the program.
Click next to see the Money Act!
Indian Treasure Trove Act, 1878
If you find Rs 100 lying on the street and considering that you are honest enough to locate the owner but failed to do so, it is not be mistaken as babaji ka prasad and put it in your pocket. This Act gives the power to the Government to prosecute for finding a treasure and not reporting it to a revenue officer. The limit of the ‘treasure’ that you can keep without reporting is Rs 11!! Yes, just Rs 11. After that the government will be blood thirsty Vampire and will hunt for you.
Click next to see the fine in paisas!
Ganges Toll Act of 1867
Do you remember you grandfathers comparing items in ‘paisa’ and ‘anna’. Well, who do not know it, these are abbreviations of money less than a rupee in old times. According to the Ganges Toll Act of 1867, the authorities can impress a charge on streamers and boats moving between Allahabad and Dinapur not exceeding 12 annas. Fun Fact: 16 anna makes a rupee!
Another shocking thing is that this act remains along with national Waterway Act 1982 and no one noticed the absurd fine amount! A pack of matches is costlier than the fine!
Click next to see how Hotels can’t say no!
Indian Sarais Act, 1887
This is one of the initial acts for the Hotels in India. According to this act, you can walk into a five star hotel and enjoy its ambiance, you can ask for free water and you can even use the washroom for free! They cannot deny the service. Also, if are feeling sick then they are bound to call for medical help.
And we complain about the lack of world class service!
Click next to see the weird Suicide law!
Suicide Law
In India Suicide is Illegal. It is ok, Government can’t let anybody die. If you attempted suicide and by chance you survived, then you will be charged and you could face a jail term of up to one year and a fine under Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code. This is one weird law. The government said in 2014 that they will repeal the law but it is still not made applicable.
If you are contemplating suicide, just make sure that you succeed in it!
Click next to see the Weird Indian Army Law!
Can’t fight with Knives!
According to Indian Army Law, Indian soldiers cannot use knives during combats. However, soldiers from Nagaland can fight with their traditional knives. It is a stupid law and who will be the referee in the war zone to cry foul if he catches one soldier using knife!
Click next to see the Most Misused Law of India
Domestic Violence Act, 2005
Introduced in 2005, it gave immense power to women against domestic violence and other harassment. It covers harassment by way of unlawful dowry demands as well and the victim can implicate a man with no evidence at all as it even covers verbal abuse. In a lot of cases, women have been known to misuse the law in their own favour for all it takes for a woman to get her man behind bars is a formal complaint and nothing else.
Click next to see the absurd Aircraft Act! The Indian Aircraft Act, 1934
It is a law that says you must take a permit to make, possess or fly any avionic object. This seems fine but the problem is that it applies to every object that can fly. So, the same thing will apply to a Boeing 747 and a kite! According to this law, it is illegal to fly a kite without getting a permit! Even on your birthday, you cannot fly a balloon!
Click next to see the weird Labor laws of India!
Labor Laws
There has been many attempts to reform labor laws in India but it is a hard nut to crack. There are about a 100-odd laws in India that regulate employment in the country, out of which not even half make complete sense and the ones that do contradict each other. It even fails to define an employee and the laws are complex. Most of them dates back to 1940s. The child labor law was a landmark but it’s implementation was a complete failure as we can still see a ‘chotu‘ in every tea stall.
Click next to see the Law facing most protests
Juvenile Justice Act
This law came into highlight after the infamous December 16, 2012 gang rape case in Delhi where the minor rapist could not be charged with more than three years of prison and was released in 2015. It faces a major protest from the people as any juvenile can get away with heinous crimes such as murder or gangrape by facing a maximum sentence of three years.
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