‘F**k off’ is vulgar American slang and is not used in Indian society to ask anyone to leave - Delhi Court

Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Sanjay Sharma of Tis Hazari Court of Delhi court held that the remark ‘f**k off’ is vulgar American slang and is not used in Indian society or educational institutes to ask anyone to leave.

Therefore, the court rejected the argument of the accused who argued that the dictionary definition of the phrase was "to leave". According to the Court, it is an offensive, abusive, and humiliating remark of a sexual nature.

The Court was hearing a revision petition by one Tausif-ul Hasan against an order of the Metropolitan Magistrate, Mahila Court, which had framed charges under Sections 506 (criminal intimidation), 354A (sexual harassment), and 509 (insulting modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The accused allegedly threatened the woman in her house and used abusive language against her. Additionally, he asked her to ‘f**k off, and called her a 'bazaru aurat', meaning a bad woman.

The ASJ Sharma concluded that there was a prima facie case that the man used the word to insult the complainant's modesty. Further, Hasan threatened to expel her and her family from the house if she did not shut up and sit in a corner.

According to the judge, this is sufficient grounds for prosecuting the petitioner under Sections 354A/509 and 506 IPC.