Supreme Court to Address PIL for Nationwide Women’s Safety Protocols
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Synopsis
The Supreme Court will hear a PIL seeking nationwide safety protocols for women, emphasizing the need for effective law enforcement and societal reforms to combat rising violence against women.
Key Takeaways
- Supreme Court to discuss a PIL for women’s safety.
- Call for stringent guidelines and reforms.
- Concerns over ineffective law enforcement.
- Highlighting the need for gender sensitivity education.
- Addressing the alarming rise in violence against women.
New Delhi, March 23 (NationPress) The Supreme Court is set to hear a public interest litigation (PIL) on Monday that calls for the establishment of comprehensive safety guidelines and reforms aimed at protecting women across India.
According to the court’s published schedule, a panel of Justices Surya Kant and N.K. Singh will continue deliberating on the PIL on March 24.
Previously, on December 16, 2024, the Justice Surya Kant-led panel expressed willingness to review the plea and requested the Union government to respond.
“We need to assess where we are falling short in fulfilling the objectives of punitive and penal laws. The issue is not merely the severity of punishment, but rather something deeper,” the apex court commented.
Senior advocate Mahalakshmi Pavani, representing the Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association, pointed out that although Parliament has passed strict laws, due to “unwillingness, corruption, and negligence among police and administrative bodies,” these laws are not implemented effectively, resulting in a lack of deterrence for offenders.
The PIL urges the court to acknowledge the urgency of the situation and to create stringent guidelines with a focused timeline for implementation to avert incidents of sexual violence against women. It also requests the court to invoke the doctrine of ‘parens patriae’ to protect the fundamental rights of women, children, and the third gender, ensuring their right to safety, secure workplaces, proper sanitation, personal dignity, bodily integrity, and a safe environment.
The petition emphasizes the alarming rise in crimes against women, girls, and infants across various regions in the country, particularly in cities like Kolkata, Delhi, Bihar, Karnataka, Assam, and others, perpetrated by sexual offenders.
It referenced the tragic incident of the gang rape and murder of a 31-year-old junior doctor in Kolkata at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, 2024, which has profoundly shaken the national conscience and serves as a grim reminder that progress since 2012 has been minimal.
“The recent gang rape of a young trainee doctor in Kolkata is just one of many cases illustrating the systemic failures, bureaucratic obstacles, and the dire state of women’s safety in India. From the Nirbhaya case to Abhaya, the brutality has only escalated,” the petition stated.
It further added that instead of politicizing these sensitive matters, the government must prioritize the safety of vulnerable populations and increase funding for the protection of women, children, and the third gender.
“The harsh reality is that India reacts only when media showcases horrifying rape cases that disturb the public,” the petition claimed.
The PIL also calls for educational institutions to implement gender sensitivity and sex education programs, along with regular workshops conducted by qualified child psychologists and counselors to educate youth about biological changes, healthy coping mechanisms, and issues related to gender equity, life skills, sexual harassment, and legal marriage ages.
In a ruling made in January this year, the Justice Surya Kant-led bench instructed the Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association to consult women lawyers across the country and gather their insights on the challenges faced by women in their areas.
“All suggestions should be compiled and submitted for the court’s consideration,” the SC added as it rescheduled the PIL for March 24.
