The Social Security, Women and Child Development Department of the Punjab Government has expressed concern over repeated instances of inappropriate and offensive portrayals of women in advertisements and has requested that such activities cease, or face strict legal consequences. These cases will now be reviewed periodically at the state level. The department has issued clear directives to all media platforms, including all TV channels, websites, web-based applications, newspapers, and other audio-visual media platforms, instructing them to ensure that no content or advertisement depicting women in an obscene or offensive manner is broadcast, published, or printed.
Quoting the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act of 1986, which strictly prohibits any indecent or offensive depiction of women, Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, Dr. Baljeet Kaur, has directed strict administrative vigilance across Punjab and has asked all District Programme Officers in the state to take immediate cognizance of such cases and ensure prompt legal action in coordination with the police. Deputy Commissioners have also been asked to periodically review such cases at the district level.