THANE: The magistrate’s court here convicted a man for using an insulting word in 2009 and fined him only Re 1 and simple imprisonment till rising of the court, that is till court proceedings are over for the day. First class judicial magistrate R T Ingale found the Ghodbunder Road resident guilty under section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman ) of the Indian Penal Code.The prosecution told court that the accused and complainant resided on the fourth and fifth floors of the building. On January 9, 2009, at 9.15am, the complainant and her husband were returning after a morning walk. While going to their flat, the complainant’s leg touched the dustbin of the accused, and it fell. The accused got furious, thinking the complainant deliberately kicked it. He shouted at the complainant and her husband, and addressed her as ‘ chammak challo ’. The words, the complainant said, insulted her modesty. She approached the housing society but no action was taken.The accused argued at length and stated the complaint was deliberate, but it was rejected by the magistrate.The judge said, “The words ‘chammak challo’ are Hindi words, and there are no such words in English. Also, the words are to be understood in Indian society by their use. Generally, they are used to insult a woman. They are not words appreciating a woman. When used, they cause irritation and anger to any woman. Therefore, the words amount to insulting the modesty of a woman, attract section 509 of the IPC.The judge also pointed out that the accused had tendered a written apology but the complainant and her husband offered no objection, which was a mitigating circumstance.