{"id":11266,"date":"2025-03-26T15:27:06","date_gmt":"2025-03-26T09:57:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bynewsindia.com\/?p=11266"},"modified":"2025-03-26T15:27:06","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T09:57:06","slug":"sc-stays-allahabad-high-court-rape-verdict-calls-it-insensitive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\/?p=11266","title":{"rendered":"Supreme Court Stays Allahabad HC\u2019s Controversial Verdict on Rape, Calls It Insensitive and Seeks Government Response!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Allahabad High Court Rape Verdict: <\/strong>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sci.gov.in\/\">Supreme Court<\/a> of India has put a stay on the Allahabad High Court\u2019s shocking verdict, which stated that grabbing the breast of a minor girl and breaking the cord of her pyjamas does not constitute rape or an attempt to rape. The apex court criticized the judgment as insensitive and inhuman, calling for immediate reconsideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and AG Masih issued a notice to the Central Government, the Uttar Pradesh Government, and other concerned parties, seeking their response on the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#supreme-courts-sharp-criticism\">Supreme Court\u2019s Sharp Criticism<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#sc-takes-suo-motu-cognizance\">SC Takes Suo Motu Cognizance<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#what-did-the-allahabad-high-court-rule\">What Did the Allahabad High Court Rule?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#background-of-the-case-a-mothers-fight-for-justice\">Background of the Case: A Mother\u2019s Fight for Justice<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#police-inaction-and-legal-battle\">Police Inaction and Legal Battle<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#similar-case-supreme-court-overturned-bombay-h-cs-skin-to-skin-verdict\">Similar Case: Supreme Court Overturned Bombay HC\u2019s \u2018Skin-to-Skin\u2019 Verdict<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#legal-and-social-reactions-to-the-allahabad-h-cs-verdict\">Legal and Social Reactions to the Allahabad HC\u2019s Verdict<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#whats-next\">What\u2019s Next?<\/a><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#final-thoughts\">ByNews-Views<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key Highlights:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Supreme Court stays Allahabad High Court\u2019s controversial ruling.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Bench calls the verdict \u201cinsensitive\u201d and \u201cinhuman.\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Center, UP Government, and concerned parties issued notice.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Solicitor General supports SC\u2019s intervention.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"supreme-courts-sharp-criticism\"><strong>Supreme Court\u2019s Sharp Criticism<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>During Wednesday\u2019s hearing, the Supreme Court bench expressed deep disappointment over the Allahabad High Court\u2019s verdict. Justice BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih remarked:<br><strong><em>\u201cThis is a very serious matter, and the judge who delivered the verdict exhibited an alarming lack of sensitivity. We are saddened to see such an inhuman approach in judicial reasoning.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Central Government, supported the Supreme Court\u2019s decision, stating that some rulings must be stayed when they lack judicial prudence and sensitivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"sc-takes-suo-motu-cognizance\"><strong>SC Takes Suo Motu Cognizance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A day prior to the hearing, the Supreme Court had already decided to take up the case on its own, following widespread outrage from legal experts, politicians, and civil rights activists. The apex court had earlier refused to hear a petition seeking the removal of controversial remarks from the High Court\u2019s judgment, but it has now chosen to intervene directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-did-the-allahabad-high-court-rule\"><strong>What Did the Allahabad High Court Rule?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>In its ruling, the Allahabad High Court stated that: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>\u201cGrabbing a girl&#8217;s private parts, breaking the cord of her pyjama, and attempting to forcibly drag her under a culvert does not constitute rape or an attempt to rape.\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On March 17, 2024, Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra of the Allahabad High Court delivered this judgment, modifying the charges against two accused individuals while accepting a criminal revision petition against three others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"background-of-the-case-a-mothers-fight-for-justice\"><strong>Background of the Case: A Mother\u2019s Fight for Justice<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The case dates back to 2021 when a woman from Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh, filed a complaint regarding the sexual assault of her 14-year-old daughter. The mother alleged that on November 10, 2021, while returning home from a relative\u2019s house, her daughter was offered a lift by three men \u2013 Pawan, Akash, and Ashok \u2013 on a bike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pawan and Akash allegedly grabbed the minor girl\u2019s private parts during the journey.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Akash attempted to break the string of her pyjama while trying to forcefully drag her under a culvert.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The girl\u2019s cries for help attracted two bystanders, Satish and Bhure, who rushed to the scene.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The accused threatened the witnesses with a country-made pistol and fled the scene.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"police-inaction-and-legal-battle\"><strong>Police Inaction and Legal Battle<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Initially, when the victim\u2019s mother approached the police, no action was taken against the accused. Even after visiting Pawan\u2019s house to complain, she was threatened by Pawan\u2019s father, Ashok. With the police failing to register a complaint, she approached the court directly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On March 21, 2022, the court took cognizance of her application, and an FIR was registered under the following sections:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pawan and Akash:<\/strong> Booked under IPC Sections 376 (rape), 354 (outraging a woman\u2019s modesty), and 354B (assault with intent to disrobe), along with Section 18 of the POCSO Act.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ashok:<\/strong> Booked under IPC Sections 504 (intentional insult) and 506 (criminal intimidation).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the accused filed a criminal revision petition, arguing that the charges were too severe. Justice Mishra\u2019s ruling, which accepted the revision plea and downgraded the charges, sparked widespread backlash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"similar-case-supreme-court-overturned-bombay-h-cs-skin-to-skin-verdict\"><strong>Similar Case: Supreme Court Overturned Bombay HC\u2019s \u2018Skin-to-Skin\u2019 Verdict<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is not the first time the Supreme Court has had to step in against an insensitive lower court judgment in sexual assault cases. In November 2021, the apex court overturned a controversial ruling by the Bombay High Court\u2019s Nagpur Bench, which had acquitted a man accused of sexual assault, arguing that groping a minor without \u201cskin-to-skin\u201d contact did not qualify as an offense under the POCSO Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Supreme Court had then ruled: <br><strong><em>\u201cThe intent behind the act is what matters. Any act involving physical contact with sexual intent constitutes sexual assault under POCSO.\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"legal-and-social-reactions-to-the-allahabad-h-cs-verdict\"><strong>Legal and Social Reactions to the Allahabad HC\u2019s Verdict<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Legal Experts:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Many legal professionals and activists have condemned the Allahabad HC ruling, stating it weakens the legal protections under POCSO.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Former Supreme Court judges have called for more gender-sensitive training for judges handling sexual assault cases.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Political Responses:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Opposition parties have slammed the ruling as a step backward in protecting women and minors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Women\u2019s rights organizations have demanded strict action against judges delivering such judgments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"whats-next\"><strong>What\u2019s Next?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>With the Supreme Court\u2019s stay order in place, the next steps will be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Review of the Allahabad HC verdict<\/strong> \u2013 The Supreme Court will examine the legal reasoning and implications of the judgment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Response from the Government<\/strong> \u2013 The Center and Uttar Pradesh Government must provide their stance on the issue.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Possible Law Reforms<\/strong> \u2013 This case might lead to discussions on strengthening legal provisions against sexual assault and ensuring judicial sensitivity.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"final-thoughts\"><strong><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">ByNews-Views<\/mark><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The Supreme Court\u2019s intervention has reaffirmed its commitment to upholding justice and protecting the rights of minor victims. As the legal battle continues, the focus now shifts to ensuring a fair and sensitive judicial approach toward cases of sexual violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Allahabad High Court\u2019s ruling has raised critical questions about judicial sensitivity in cases of sexual assault, and the Supreme Court\u2019s decision will set a precedent for similar cases in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Also read:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bynewsindia.com\/india\/justice-yashwant-varma-case-supreme-court-releases-the-report\/\"><strong>The Supreme Court Just Release Explosive Evidence Against Justice Yashwant Varma | What Happens Next?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"gsp_post_data\" data-post_type=\"post\" data-cat=\"india\" data-modified=\"120\" data-title=\"Supreme Court Stays Allahabad HC\u2019s Controversial Verdict on Rape, Calls It Insensitive and Seeks Government Response!\" data-home=\"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Allahabad High Court Rape Verdict: The Supreme Court of India has put a stay on the Allahabad High Court\u2019s shocking verdict, which stated that grabbing the breast of a minor girl and breaking the cord of her pyjamas does not constitute rape or an attempt to rape. The apex court criticized the judgment as insensitive<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":926,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[96],"tags":[911,912,93,94,95,913,97,99,914],"class_list":{"0":"post-11266","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-india","8":"tag-allahabad-high-court","9":"tag-allahabad-high-court-rape-verdict","10":"tag-bynews","11":"tag-bynews-special","12":"tag-bynewsindia","13":"tag-rape-case","14":"tag-supreme-court","15":"tag-top-stories","16":"tag-verdict-on-rape"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11266","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11266"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11266\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/926"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11266"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11266"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/khabar18.jantabuletin.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11266"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}