What about men with sunglasses? Twitter on Kerala cop’s 14-sec staring remark

Kerala excise commissioner Rishiraj Singh on Sunday said that a man who stares at a woman for over 14 seconds can be booked, giving rise to a debate in the state.

Addressing a public function organised by students in Kochi, Singh had said, “Most of us don’t know that an FIR can be registered against a man who stares continuously at a woman for more than 14 seconds. But not a single case has been registered in the state on this count.”

Emphasising on the increase in number of crimes against women in Kerala, Singh urged girls to be proactive. The top excise officer asked them to react instantly if anyone passed lewd comments or touched them inappropriately. He also beseeched them to follow up earnestly on the crimes committed against them.

However, not everyone has taken Singh’s 14-second ogle remark well.

State sports minister EP Jayarajan said the commissioner’s comment was in bad taste and asked him to brush up his law knowledge. “I don’t know from where he got this piece of information. He is trying to quote a law that is non-existent,” he said.

The twitterverse, too, did not take Singh’s remarks too kindly. Sample a few:

“I don’t know from where he got this piece of information. He is trying to quote a law that is non-existent,” Jayarajan said.

“There is no provision to book anyone for mere staring. If a man with his words, gestures or acts intends to insult the modesty of a woman, he can be booked under Section 509 of IPC,” said senior advocate CP Udayabhanu.

“What about men who wear sunglasses,” tweeted a user.

However, Singh found support in one Twitter user:

Controversy is not new to Rishiraj Singh. In July 2015, he kicked up a row for not saluting the state home minister Ramesh Chennithala at a function at the state police academy in Thrissur.

Much to the government’s embarrassment, several newspapers flashed the picture of the senior officer sitting when the minister arrived before the passing out parade of police constables. Singh denied breaching the protocol.