Moral Policing

Moral policing is usually carried out by non-state actors like vigilante groups or community organizations.

It often targets vulnerable groups, including women, religious minorities, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

The actions of moral policing can range from verbal harassment and intimidation to physical violence and property damage.

Moral policing often violates fundamental rights guaranteed by the Indian Constitution, such as the right to freedom of speech and expression (Article 19) and the right to personal liberty (Article 21).

There is no specific law that legalizes moral policing in India. However, some laws, such as those related to public order and decency, are sometimes misused to justify such actions.

The Indian Penal Code (IPC) has provisions to address acts of violence and harassment, but these are often not effectively enforced in cases of moral policing.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed concerns about incidents of moral policing and has called for greater protection of individual rights.

Social media platforms have become a tool for moral policing, with online harassment and cyberbullying being used to target individuals who are perceived to be violating social norms.

The concept of "public morality" is often invoked to justify moral policing, but this concept is subjective and can be used to suppress dissenting voices.

Courts have generally held that individual autonomy and freedom of choice should be respected, even if they conflict with traditional social norms.

Moral policing can create a climate of fear and self-censorship, discouraging individuals from expressing themselves freely or engaging in activities that are deemed "immoral" by certain groups.

The effectiveness of moral policing in achieving its stated goals is questionable, as it often leads to resentment and resistance rather than genuine social change.