ONLINE HARASSMENT: CHALLENGES AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK

The exponential growth of digital communication has redefined the boundaries of human interaction, enabled unprecedented connectivity while simultaneously created fertile ground for new forms of abuse. Cyberbullying and online harassment have emerged as some of the most pervasive and psychologically damaging manifestations of this dark digital evolution. Unlike traditional bullying, their reach is limitless, their permanence haunting, and their anonymity disempowering. Victims often women, children, and other vulnerable groups endure deep emotional trauma, reputational harm, and social isolation, while perpetrators exploit the borderless nature of cyberspace to evade accountability._x000D_ This paper critically examines the phenomenon of cyberbullying and online harassment in the Indian context, tracing its conceptual contours, socio-psychological impact, and the adequacy of the existing legal response. It analyses the interplay between the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Information Technology Act, 2000, and allied legislations such as the POCSO Act, 2012, and the IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021. Through landmark judicial pronouncements from Shreya Singhal v. Union of India (2015) to State of West Bengal v. Animesh Boxi (2018) the paper highlights the judiciary's evolving recognition of digital rights as intrinsic to constitutional guarantees of dignity, privacy, and free speech._x000D_ However, despite progressive judgments and statutory provisions, enforcement remains fragmented, hindered by jurisdictional complexities, evidentiary fragility, and the persistent misuse of repealed provisions like Section 66A of the IT Act. The paper argues for a unified, victim-centric framework that balances free expression with digital accountability, supported by technological vigilance, educational initiatives, and empathetic law enforcement.