The National Commission of Women (NCW) is pushing for a “separate regulatory body” — along the lines of the film censor board — to check “indecent” depiction of women in advertisements.

In a bid to widen the purview of the existing Prohibition of Indecent Representation of Women’s Act, 1986, the NCW has proposed to the government to set up a regulatory body to screen “advertisements”.

“It has been seen that advertisers of late are using women as an object to promote their commodities. There is no need for a woman to be there in an advertisement to promote, for instance, male perfumes, but the advertisers use their explicit pictures. We want this to be put under the scanner,” Girija Vyas, NCW chairperson told The Indian Express.

The commission has also proposed a fresh penalty for the offenders in place of the existing penalty of Rs 2,000, which may go up to Rs 1 lakh in case of subsequent offences.

In the event of second or subsequent conviction, the NCW has proposed imprisonment for a term of not less than six months, which may extend up to five years and also imposition of a fine of not less than Rs 50,000, which may extend to Rs 5 lakh.

The proposal, which has recently been sent to the Information & Broadcast (I&B) Ministry, assumes significance with the commission regularly receiving complaints regarding advertisements.