Cyber Stalking and Harassment of Women in India: A Legal Study

Due to the increasing growth of digital communication mediums in India, there has been a steep surge in the cases of cybercrime against women in the form of cyber stalking and online harassment. This paper analyses the adequacy of the laws which regulate such offenses, i.e., the adequacy of Information Technology Act, 2000 and the Indian Penal Code, 1860, which has been amended through the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013.

In addition to the above, the contribution of Indian higher judiciary towards the law has been reviewed with an emphasis on the inadequacies in the legal system. The study shows that despite some level of protection offered by the present legal regime, it lacks effectiveness in view of its gender neutrality, lack of definition, lack of procedural mechanism, and the inability to recognize the social context that exposes women to cybercrimes.