MAM
Govt. mulls norms tweak on women’s portrayal in digital media
NEW DELHI: The Indian government is proposing to amend relevant laws relating to representation of women in mass media with a view to make the law contemporary and keep pace with changing technologies like OTT and other digital services.
The India government had enacted the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act (IRWA), 1986 to prohibit indecent representation of women through advertisements, publications, writings, paintings, figures or in any other manner. Since the enactment of the Act, technological evolution has resulted in the development of new forms of communication, such as internet, multi-media messaging, cable television, over-the-top (OTT) services and applications like Skype, Viber, WhatsApp, Chat On, Snapchat and Instagram.
According to a statement put out by the government, technological advancements has necessitated widening the scope of the law so as to cover all forms of media. The proposal to amend the Act was introduced in Parliament in 2012, which referred the issue to a Parliamentary Standing Committee.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development (WCD) has proposed amendments to widen the scope of Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act (IRWA), 1986 keeping in mind the recent technological advancement in the field of communications.
Based on the observations made by the Parliamentary Standing Committee and recommendation made by the National Commission for Women and wide consultations with civil society groups, the following amendments have been recommended, amongst other things, by the ministry:
Amendment in definition of term advertisement to include digital form or electronic form or hoardings, or through SMS and MMS.
Amendment in definition of distribution to include publication, license or uploading using computer resource or communication device.
Penalty similar to that provided under the Information Technology Act, 2000.
Creation of a centralized authority under the National Commission of Women (NCW). This body will have representatives from Advertising Standards Council of India, Press Council of India, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and one member having experience of working on women issues.
This centralized body will be authorized to receive complaints or grievances regarding any programme or advertisement broadcast or published and investigate/examine all matters relating to the indecent representation of women.
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Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI:Â Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
