Chandigarh, Sept. 23 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court (HC) has said that attempts made by a person to talk to a stranger woman could be unwelcome or annoying but do not constitute a crime of outraging modesty of the woman.

The HC bench of justice Kirti Singh ordered quashing of an FIR registered against one Gaurav Khatri, registered in Rohtak in July 2020, while clarifying that to constitute an offence under Section 354 of Indian Penal Code to sustain, criminal force must be applied against her and such application of force must be with the intent to outrage her modesty.

"To the considered mind of this court, the said act (petitioner's act), though can be seen as annoying and unwelcome, cannot be said to be such as to shock the sens...