Coimbatore Court Enforces TNPHW Act to Protect Victim from Sexual Offender

quick Summary

• Protection Order Issued: the Coimbatore District Police issued a protection order against Abdul Rasak, 48, under the Tamil Nadu prohibition of Harassment of Women (Amendment) Act, 2025.
• Accusations and Arrest: Rasak was accused of sexually harassing a 19-year-old girl multiple times. He faced investigations by Mettupalayam Railway Police and was sent to judicial remand.
• Legal Framework: Under Clause 7C of the amended TNPHW Act,an Executive Magistrate can issue protection orders if there is prima facie satisfaction that relevant offenses have occurred. Breach of this order could lead to imprisonment (up to three years) or fines (up to ₹1 lakh).
• Provisions in Protection Order: Rasak is prohibited from any form of interaction with the victim-through personal contact or electronic means-including third-party involvement.
• Significance: This case marks the first instance in Coimbatore district and second statewide where the amended provisions have been successfully implemented for such an offense.

indian opinion analysis

The issuance of this protection order under the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of women (Amendment) Act marks significant progress in addressing sexual harassment cases with both urgency and enhanced legal tools available post-amendment. The prescribed protocol ensures swift intervention by leveraging administrative measures alongside criminal proceedings.

This advancement underscores two key points. First, it demonstrates that institutional mechanisms are evolving toward prioritizing victims’ safety through preventive actions like restraining orders before further harm occurs, rather than retroactively responding after damage is done. Second, enforcement strategies signal growing awareness about stronger safeguards needed for women facing harassment.

As this marks only the second instance statewide where these provisions have been applied successfully as their amendment, scrutiny will be essential to track whether consistent implementation follows across districts in Tamil Nadu over time.

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