 "Supreme Court of India. Reuters")
The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the controversial order of the Allahabad High Court that held “grabbing breasts” and “breaking the strings of a girl’s pyjamas” don’t constitute rape or attempt to rape, news agency PTI reported.
Supreme Court bench of Justices B R Gavai and Augustine George Masih said some remarks in the Allahabad High Court order were insensitive and inhuman. The SC also sent notices to the Centre, Uttar Pradesh government, and others, seeking their response in the suo motu proceedings on the HC’s 17 March order.
“We are pained to state that it shows total lack of sensitivity on the part of the author of the judgment," the SC said in the judgement, as quoted by PTI.
On 17 March, the Allahabad High Court ruled that grabbing a woman’s breast and pulling her pyjama string is considered assault or use of criminal force to disrobe, not rape. The order was issued by Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra.