23/05/2026
The Supreme Court stated that a woman's character or "purity" cannot be judged through outdated patriarchal perspectives. A woman's dignity, privacy, and sexual autonomy are rights protected under the Constitution.
The Court held that threatening to upload a woman's private bathing/intimate video on social media is a direct attack on her dignity, privacy, and personal liberty. Such an act constitutes serious criminal intimidation.
According to the BNS:
This case was during the Indian Penal Code (IPC) era, where Section 506 of the IPC was applicable. The IPC has now been replaced by the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 2023. Currently, such an act may generally fall under Section 351 (Criminal Intimidation) of the BNS, and other provisions of the IT Act and other provisions related to women's privacy may also be applicable depending on the circumstances.
(Supreme Court Judgment Date: May 22, 2026)
Case: Vijayakumar v. State of Tamil Nadu
Bench: Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh
