New Delhi: A sessions court has upheld the one-year sentence of a man held guilty in a sexual harassment case saying there was a need of awarding stringent punishment to such people so as to send a strong message to the society.

“Persons who have no respect for women need to be taught that such behaviour will invite stringent punishment,” it noted in the order.

Special judge Sandeep Yadav upheld the sentence of convict Virender Kumar, while dismissing his appeal against a magisterial court order that had sent him behind bars terming the crime committed by him as serious.

“The sentence awarded to Kumar is just, fair and adequate and is commensurate with the seriousness of crime committed by him,” the judge said.

He said such persons “who have no respect for the dignity of women, need to be taught that a person with any deviant behaviour indented to outrage the modesty of a woman will invite punishment. No leniency can be shown in such cases.”

The court also upheld a penalty of Rs 10,000 imposed on him with a direction that the amount should be paid to the victim. Kumar, in his appeal, contended that the complaint was false and fabricated and the woman’s husband.