DU students file plaint against ‘Sex Amma’ column

New Delhi: While claiming to be hurt by the content, three Delhi University students from Faculty of Law have strongly criticised a column, “Sex Amma”, in a weekly tabloid published by the varsity students. They have even approached the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), which has issued notices to DU, DCP West and DCP cyber crime asking them to conduct a time-bound inquiry on the issue. DU Beat, a weekly tabloid and website run by a group of students of the university-affiliated colleges, has faced the wrath of Mohit Kumar Gupta, Shashi Chaurasia, and Vikas Bhaskar for its content.

The three had filed a complaint at the Maurice Nagar police station and later at the DCW and to the DU joint registrar, but only after they were not able to contact the publication due to unavailability of address or contact details on the website.

Speaking to this newspaper, Mr Gupta said that the page is patronising the sketch of a woman in a very lascivious manner, which is prohibited as per the Indecent Representation of Women (prohibition) Act.

“The caricature of the woman, which features in the column, is seen wearing a sari and revealing her undergarments, which is shameful. Most importantly, the word Amma has gained a huge relevance in Tamil Nadu and is considered as a motherly figure. So, how can they call the character the same? In the name of sex education, they are posting topics which are not even relevant to it,” Mr Gupta said.

The weekly column, “Sex Amma”, has been featuring in DU Beat since 2008 and gives advices on sexual health, relationships, and intimacy to students on the queries that they receive from the university students.

The complainant even claimed that the column is addressing women as “idli-dosa”, which is a racial attack on the South Indian community.

“This is a clear case of obscenity, indecent representation, and indecent publication through technology. We accept that they can use it in a humorous way, but not by making fun of the term ‘Amma.’ Even the identity of the sex counsellors is not disclosed on the website. Although the police has refused to file an FIR in this matter, the DCW has asked the DU Internal Complaint Committee to soon submit an interim report on the matter,” Mr Gupta added.

Meanwhile, members of DU Beat clarified that the column is purely fictional and is not meant to hurt anyone’s feelings.