10 Craziest And Strangest Laws Of India
Laws are made to safeguard and serve the public of a country. Like each other thing, these laws should be refreshed occasionally to oblige the current patterns.
At all times, you are expected to abide by the law, but what if the law is itself aberrant. Though the laws are introduced to stop people from doing strange things, sometimes these laws itself are strange. We have culled out some of the strangest and weirdest laws of our country that will absolutely blow your mind.
1. Why can’t you drink at 18 when you can vote at 18?
The legal age of drinking alcohol in India differs significantly from every state. If you are in Delhi, you need to be 25 to have alcohol whereas you can start drinking at the age of 21 if you are in Rajasthan or Uttar Pradesh or West Bengal. Doesn’t make sense, right? What’s even weirder is that in Maharashtra you can have wine or beer at the age of 21 but to have any other liquor you need to be 25.
As you all know, you are considered competent to elect leaders at 18 or for that matter legal age for marriage for women is 18 and men 21, but for having alcohol, you need to be 25. Duh! Lawmaking bodies think you need more maturity to handle alcohol than marriage. Really?
2. You need a ‘permit’ to fly a kite.
The Aircraft Act 1934 states that flying a kite without police permission is a breach of the law. Wow! Really? Was I committing an offense all this while when I was flying a kite? Yes. According to this Act, aircraft means any machine which can derive support in the atmosphere from the reaction of the air. This includes balloons, airships, kites, gliders, and flying machines. So, yes, if you are flying a kite without police permission, well you are committing an offense, and you can be fined Rs 10 lakh and sentenced to up to two years in prison if you violate this law.
3. Only Indian Postal Service can deliver letters.
Wait, What? The Indian Post Office Act, 1898 states that only the Indian Postal Service can deliver letters to your postal address. Wondering how the courier industry in India is thriving? Courier companies can circumvent this, however, by calling them ‘documents’, which they are allowed to deliver.
4. Prostitution is legal, but you can’t be a pimp.
Prostitutes can practice their trade privately but cannot legally solicit customers in public. Organized prostitution like brothels, prostitution rings, pimping, etc., is illegal in India. Are you confused? This is totally absurd. In general, laws around prostitution in India are quite vague.
5. Adultery is illegal, but only the man gets the punishment.
Does that sound whacky? Well, as per the current laws only a man is punished for adultery. Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code says that if a man has sexual intercourse with a woman who is married, and he does not have the consent of the husband of the woman for the sexual activity, then he is punishable under this section. The woman herself is not liable to be punished. This is a gender-biased law and states that while men can be sentenced to jail but there is no punishment for women and they can go on making as many liaisons with other men as they please.
6. Internet censorship
Under the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000 online pornography is illegal. However, you can access it in private. That’s called the law of convenience.
7. The penalty for the third child in Kerala.
Families in Kerala can have up to two children with no consequences. However, in case of more than two, you will attract a fine of Rs 10,000. Also, you can avail of government benefits only for the first two children you have.
8. Home delivery of alcohol.
As illogical as it may sound, in Delhi, you can get a beer and wine home delivered from supermarkets, but the home delivery of other alcoholic beverages is prohibited.
9. No obscenity, please!
As per Section 294 of the Indian Penal Code, whoever behaves or says anything obscene in public is punishable, but strangely the word ‘obscene’ is not defined anywhere. So, how will we determine what’s obscene?
10. No unnatural sex.
Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code criminalises unnatural sex. Like seriously in this age? How the government in the 21st century still labels a natural attraction between same-sex as unnatural. Why does the government get to decide one’s sexual preferences? Weird!
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