Soon, sending a pornographic multimedia message and emails may land you in jail for a maximum period of three years. In a Union Cabinet meeting headed by the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, a few amendments made to the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act (IRWA), 1986 were approved.

"The amendments broaden the scope of the law to cover the audio-visual media and material in electronic form," an official statement said here since the previor act only covered the print media making the amends most necessary at this point of time.

The changes were also made to the fines attached to the law for the violators. The minimum fine for the first conviction in such cases had been hiked from Rs 50,000 from Rs 2000 earlier. The maximum fine could be up to one lakh rupees.

In an offender repeats the crime he can be imprisoned for up to seven years along with a fine of Rs 1-5 lakhs.

"This would aid in addressing the problem of increased objectification of women thereby ensuring dignity of women," the release said emphasizing that the coverage of the current law would be wider with more forms of communication like Internet, multimedia messaging being added to the existing print and audio-visual media.

(AW- Anil)