Kerala High Court quashes obscenity case against driving inspector who told lady to take a bath, cut her nails

The Kerala High Court quashed criminal charges against a Motor Vehicle Inspector accused of using “filthy” remarks, telling a woman during her driving test to “take a bath” and “cut her nails.”

Justice G Girish held that although the language was crude, it lacked any sexual intent and didn’t occur in a public place, therefore failing to constitute offences under Sections 294(b) (obscenity) and 509 (insulting modesty) of the IPC.

The Court held that, at most, the language was crude but not legally obscene or sexually tinged, and allowed the inspector’s plea.

[Anas Mohammed M v State of Kerala]