7 INDIAN LAWS THAT ARE COMPLETELY BIZARRE & ILLOGICAL!

Laws are made to protect and serve the individuals of a country. And just like everything else, these laws need constant updating to suit the changing times. The Indian Constitution, being the longest written constitution in the world is tormented by many loopholes. The Indian constitution is loaded with flawed, obsolete laws that are absolutely absurd and need to be amended this instant.

Read below these absolutely insane laws from across India.

1. The Unfortunate Lottery

The Indian Treasure Trove Act makes for one heartbreaking lottery.The law characterizes treasure explicitly as "anything of any worth hidden in the soil" and worth as little as 10 rupees.

The finder of such treasure, according to the law, must report it, the "nature and sum or approximate worth of such treasure and the place where it was found". If the finder fails to hand over the pickings to the government, the "portion of such treasure ... shall vest in Her Majesty". It's worth taking a trip down memory lane that the British left India in 1947.

2. Adultery is illegal, but only the man gets the punishment.

Does that sound bizarre? All things considered, according to the current laws only a man is punished for adultery. Section 497 of the Indian Penal Code says that if a man had sexual intercourse with a woman who is married, and he doesn’t have the assent of the spouse of the woman for the sexual activity, then he is punishable under this section.

The woman herself is not obligated to be punished. This is a gender-biased law and states that while men can be condemned to prison but there is no punishment for women and they can continue making as many liaisons with other men as they please.

3. Even Your Kite need a Licence

Some of our fondest childhood (and adulthood) memories are of flying kites, especially around 15th August. But as insane as it sounds, you may end up in jail for flying kites!

Another silly law is the Indian Aircraft Act of 1934 that considers a kite to be likewise an aircraft thus making it necessary to get a license to fly one. A person can be prisoned for two years or charged a fine of up to Rs.10 lacs if he/she flies an aircraft in such a way that it causes threat to any person or property on land, water or in the air. Aircraft here include balloons, gliders, and ironically, kites. As is clear, this law has never been followed and should be dealt away with immediately.

4. Long Legs to be a Runner… Sorry! To be a Pilot!

Adding to the list of the absurd laws, another clause requires one to have long legs to be qualified to be a pilot. If your legs are lesser than 90-95 cm, you are out of this Pilot race! Of course, intelligence, capability and skills are secondary requirements, but all aspirants for the post better have long legs. Wondering if Amitabh Bachchan and Deepika Padukone can try for this role???

5. Suicide? Either a successful attempt or get ready to go to Prison!

In a blatant undermining of the essential standards of democracy, Section 309 of the Penal Code ensures you are punished if you don’t do the suicide right. The law expresses that a successful suicide is legal, but failure to succeed might land you in prison. This is based on the idea that if the person dies, the matter dies with him/her. But, should they survive, they stand answerable and punishable for their activity.

6. India’s ‘many’ laws around drinking

In contrast to most countries in the world, the lawful drinking age in India varies. Goa and Sikkim permit you to drink at 18, while many states let you choose your toxic substance at 21. Delhi and Punjab, on the other hand, have increased the legitimate drinking age to 25! A special mention to places like Gujarat and Lakshadweep, where drinking is illegal out and out. Doesn’t make sense, right? What’s even weirder is that in Maharashtra you can have wine or beer at 21 years however to have some other liquor you need to be 25. It's no surprise that fathers everywhere have had their drink cabinet raided in ‘creative’ ways for ages!

7. Free to use any hotel’s restroom!

One can use the restroom and drink water at any hotel whether one is lodging at that hotel or not. This law came into power 150 years ago, under the Indian Sarais Act, 1867. Sarai means any building utilized for the shelter and accommodation of travellers’ hotels fall under this category. It clearly is one of the bizarre laws of India yet a beneficial one, given that our public facilities are far and few. But we suggest you to go on the bogus guise of eating or staying in the hotel, if you don’t want to get threatened by those savage looks by the Hotel’s manager!

MAYANK RAJGADIA

H014 TYBBA