Indian society needs a change

[u/midnightAbrocoma331]

Why is public affection still treated like some kind of crime in India?

Every time my partner and I meet, something as simple as sharing a kiss or hugging each other tightly turns into a mission. Instead of just enjoying the moment, we're constantly looking for a private corner where we won't be judged, stared at, or interrupted.

And even when we finally find a quiet spot, there's always that one random uncle who suddenly appears out of nowhere and decides it's his responsibility to monitor our lives. We're not bothering anyone, we're not hurting anyone, yet somehow our existence becomes everyone's concern.

What's frustrating is that basic affection between two consenting adults is still seen as "inappropriate" by so many people. Meanwhile, staring, moral policing, and invading other people's privacy are somehow considered acceptable.

It's 2026. Maybe it's time we stopped acting like a couple sharing a kiss is a threat to society and started teaching people to mind their own business.

Not every hug is indecent. Not every kiss is obscene. Sometimes two people just miss each other and want to be close for a moment.

That's it. Let people live.

[u/Aarya_Man]

M20 here

Me and my girlfriend (21) have basically decided to ignore society and whenever we wanna show affection be it a hug or a kiss in public we just do it without giving a single f

Whenever anyone tries to approach us either she gets into a fighting spirit or I show my legal prowess (I’m a law student) and state that it’s a basic fundamental right

The main modus operandi y’all can use is claiming that it’s a fundamental right to show affection (which it is) and there’s nothing in the constitution which dictates that basic forms of affection are obscene

When a mother or father hug or kiss their child in public, does anyone question?

No they do not

The same task being performed by two consenting adults is questioned which just means people don’t have b*ches so they get into some moral high ground

Be confident people no one can dictate how you and your partner live life y’all are consenting adults live like consenting adults

[u/crazylalba → u/Aarya_Man]

Look, I get the confidence and it’s great that you two are all in on each other, but as a law student, you need to step back and look at how the system actually functions on the ground before that legal prowess backfires on you. Reciting constitutional rights sounds great in theory, but the reality is that Section 294 of the IPC or Section 296 of the BNS now specifically criminalizes any obscene act in public that causes annoyance to others. The trap here is that the law deliberately leaves obscenity and annoyance subjective. You don’t get to define what’s acceptable; the public and the police do. If an onlooker or a moral policing group claims your public kissing annoyed them, the cops legally have the leverage to haul you in, regardless of how unfair or outdated you think it is. Your comparison to a parent hugging a child also doesn't hold up legally because courts rely on a community standards test, which views romantic intimacy and parental affection through entirely different lenses. Is society hypocritical about it? Absolutely. But acting like a simple hug and a romantic kiss are viewed the same way by the law is just wishful thinking. More importantly, getting into a fighting spirit or trying to outsmart a cop with legal jargon on the street is a quick way to turn a minor situation into an arrest for public nuisance or obstructing a public servant. A constable on the beat isn't going to debate Article 19 or 21 with you; they will just take you to the station. Even if you are technically right and a higher court eventually dismisses the case weeks later because a basic display of affection shouldn't be deemed obscene, the process itself becomes the punishment. You still end up dealing with a police station, paying lawyers, and handling the massive headache that comes with it just to prove a point. Real legal prowess isn't about triggering a fight you have to win in court , it's about having the street smarts to de-escalate, avoid the hassle, and protect your peace. Keep loving your girlfriend and living your life, but lose the reckless bravado before your ego turns a quick moment of affection into a legal nightmare.

[u/Aarya_Man → u/crazylalba]

My friend

in a comment just a minute ago I have stated a case law which very well displays the distinction between what counts as innocent and obscene, the Supreme Court itself has stated that merely hugging and kissing in public does not count as obscene

In fact, In Richard Gere v. State of Rajasthan (2008), the Supreme Court effectively rejected the idea that a brief public kiss by itself amounts to obscenity. A hug, holding hands, or a brief kiss between consenting adults does not automatically become an obscene act merely because someone is annoyed by it.

If the highest echelon of the judiciary itself is stating this then the ground moral rules become highly trivial, illogical and in fact illegal don’t they?

[u/Sudhars2 → u/Aarya_Man]

it remains fine until its innocent display of affection. the problem arises here - "obscene act in a public place" that causes "annoyance to others".

We all know for a fact we are unfortunately not civilised enough to realise what is not appropriate.

[u/Aarya_Man → u/Sudhars2]

I partially agree with you here however there exists a nuance, that being that that’s precisely the distinction Indian courts have repeatedly emphasized.

In s khushboo vs kanniammal, the Supreme Court very respectably stated that displays of affection cannot be treated as criminal merely because they offend certain sections of society. A hug, holding hands, or a brief kiss between consenting adults does not automatically become an obscene act merely because someone finds it uncomfortable or disapproves of it. The legal threshold for obscenity is much higher than personal annoyance or moral disagreement.

The entire core issue is that even innocent displays of affection trigger the masses here and they start morally policing

No couple wishes to display sexuality in public however where are people drawing the line?

Merely hugging someone or kissing someone is considered obscene? I personally find that purely illogical

And as I stated, even the courts themselves have observed that hugging or kissing in public does not count as obscenity

[u/AloneImpression5660 → u/Aarya_Man]

You are so smart adi

[u/vadapav1718 → u/Sudhars2]

"obscene act in a public place that causes annoyance to others"

Bruh even walking together feels like a crime because of uncles and aunties. I can agree that a line should be drawn before affection turns obscene, but the problem arises when even normal things like holding hands and hugging are treated like obscene acts.

[u/Emperor2408 → u/Aarya_Man]

Though your comment makes sense, that relation is illogical.

A mother/father kissing their children is very different from 2 consenting adults kissing each other. I mean, i wouldn't be fine watching my partner kiss some other person.

[u/imphenominal21 → u/Aarya_Man]

Bro hasnt faced some specific type of people yet.....those kinds dont give a rats ass about your rights and wrongs

[u/Fun-Minister62 → u/Aarya_Man]

Pehle ye bata gf kaise pataye ????baki sab baad ki baat 😞😞

[u/Aarya_Man → u/Fun-Minister62]

Dance ooga booga invoking the gods 🕺🕺🕺

[u/Fun-Minister62 → u/Aarya_Man]

Wht ???.

[u/[deleted] → u/Aarya_Man]

Oh yeah? Look at you! You like it huh?