India Court: Is Condom Packaging Obscene?

India Court: Is Condom Packaging Obscene?

MUMBAI — India’s highest court has ordered the country’s solicitor general to explore whether images of scantily clad women and men on packaging and advertisements for condoms, contraceptives and other sexual wellness products breach obscenity laws.

The Supreme Court this week asked the solicitor general to file a report within six weeks as well as take a “stand” on pictures printed on the products, according to the International Business Times.

“You tell us whether action can be taken on these ads or not. Take a look at the advertisements available on record and also others and then tell us what is your stand,” the court told the government’s lawyer, Maninder Singh.

The court also asked Singh: “Do you have any plan to regulate such advertisements? Is there a way you can check what is going to be printed on these packets or can you take action only after these packets with pictures are available in the market? You also have to tell us if such advertisements may constitute a penal offense.”

Conservatives in this country often register complaints with police under the obscenity law and police are obliged to register a case when complaints are made. Penalties carry a maximum punishment of two years in prison and five years for repeat offenders.  

Bollywood actress and former porn star Sunny Leone was hit with an obscenity charge last year for her online movies and photographs.

India censors blocked the release of the erotic film “Fifty Shades of Grey” in theaters last year, but they were forced to reverse a controversial order banning hundreds of porn websites after being accused of heavy-handed censorship.

The case at hand over packaging and advertising came after condom manufacturers appealed an earlier high court order banning lurid pictures from their packets on the grounds that they were obscene and an affront to Indian culture.

The high court was responding to a petition filed against the manufacturers.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Stephen Colbert Takes Aim at Texas' Crackdown on Sex Toys

Stephen Colbert is cracking up over Texas lawmakers’ crackdown on sex toys in the state.

XR Brands 'Silicone Body Forms' Highlighted at Paris Fashion Week

XR Brands’ Ripped Silicone Male Chest and Perky Pair Silicone Breasts were highlighted at 2025 Paris Fashion Week.

Age Verification Watch: Patching the Holes

This roundup provides an update on the latest news and developments on the age verification front as it impacts the adult industry.

Eye of Love Introduces 'Matchmaker Collection' Display Planogram

Eye of Love has debuted a new display planogram for its Matchmaker Collection of pheromone-infused scents.

Fleshlight Debuts Taylor Vixxen Stroker

Fleshlight has introduced its new Pro stroker, molded on the anatomy of Taylor Vixxen.

Orion Expands 'LateX' Collection With 2 New Outfits

Orion Wholesale has added two new outfits to its LateX collection of fetish apparel.

Blush Debuts 'Unicorn Dreams' Vibrator

Blush has introduced the new Unicorn Dreams vibrator from its Play With Me collection.

Ofcom Fines OnlyFans Parent Company Over Inaccurate Age Verification Reporting

U.K. communications regulator Ofcom has fined OnlyFans parent company Fenix International Ltd. $1.36 million for inaccurate reporting of its age verification measures.

Cyberskin Debuts 4 New Strokers

Pleasure brand Cyberskin has introduced four new strokers.

Chappell Roan Gives Shout Out to Womanizer on 'Call Her Daddy' Podcast

Chappell Roan gave a shout-out to Womanizer during her guest appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, hosted by Alex Cooper.

Show More