The Kadamba Transport Corporation (KTC) has been directed to drop all the condom brand advertisements from their buses, effective immediately. This order was passed by the Goa State Commission for Women. In the order, the GSWC states that the “Commission has taken strong cognizance of the matter of displaying advertisements of contraceptives at public places and Kadamba Transport Corporation buses as reported in the press and Memorandum submitted by NGOs etc.”
The fact that these advertisements were displayed on the state-run buses came to light recently and several people called for a ban on these advertisements, directing their ire at the KTC. Their position was that such advertisements degraded the image of the state; reinforcing its ‘infamous’ image of a bikini destination. An NGO claimed that such advertisements objectified women, while some were infuriated at the fact that many of these buses were used to ferry school students. The latter point may have a strong grounding in logic, but let’s not make the mistake of assuming that children do not see provocative images and advertisements elsewhere. All claims may be construed as ludicrous, but the decision on whether these advertisements were objectifying women, or that they should be left as is, needs to be decided by a court.
The KTC has rightly protested against the order, saying that their viewpoint wasn’t put across. They have every right to argue their case, especially in matters like this. But what no one has done yet is question the order and the fact that the Goa State Women’s Commission does not have the power to pass an order like this, let alone enforce it.
The GSWC was set up to ‘investigate, examine and recommend course of action on all matters relating to the provisions for women under the Constitution and other laws’ according to the State Commission for Women Act. The GSWC can take cognizance of this matter. It can investigate it; it can certainly call witnesses as it possesses certain powers resembling a court. But it cannot pass an order. What it can do, is recommend certain actions to the Women and Child Department of the Government of Goa, or any other department under whose jurisdiction this matter may fall. But passing an order may be stretching its powers a little too much.
Leave aside the argument of whether the condom advertisement in question is objectionable, or in the words of the GSWC, that “these advertisements do cause embarrassment to women and deteriorate their dignity”, if anything has to be done in this regard, it has to be done by a body that possesses the power to pass orders, and the KTC has to be given their chance in court.
