GUWAHATI: The Supreme Court has expressed concern over the safety of women in India, calling for a fundamental change in societal mindset across the country.
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On Tuesday, April 8, a bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Satish Chandra Sharma made an appeal for greater respect, autonomy, and dignity for women, stating, “Leave the women alone… Allow them to grow.”
The bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by advocate Aabad Harshad Ponda, which sought the implementation of value-based education and gender sensitisation to combat rising incidents of sexual assault and rape. The petition called for steps to raise awareness about penal provisions related to crimes against women and children.
Highlighting ground realities, Justice Nagarathna pointed out the continuing lack of sanitation infrastructure in rural areas, noting that many women are forced to defecate in the open after dusk due to the absence of toilets. She said this not only has adverse health implications but also exposes women to the risk of sexual assault.
The court observed that women, whether in urban or rural areas, constantly bear the psychological burden of personal safety. “The moment a woman steps onto the street, a bus, or a railway station, she carries the additional mental load of ensuring her own safety,” the bench remarked.
Stressing that this additional burden is invisible to most men, the court said that the mindset around women’s autonomy must change, and the perception of women as targets of sexual assault needs to end. It emphasised the urgency of implementing a multi-pronged sensitisation campaign, including public awareness measures.
The central government informed the court that while the National Education Policy provided for gender sensitisation, the relevant modules and syllabi were still being finalised. The bench expressed dissatisfaction over the delay, especially as the academic year had already commenced, and granted the Centre three weeks to file a comprehensive affidavit.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on May 6.
