The Supreme Court is debating whether or not laws pertaining to crimes against women, including rape, and the rights of women should be taught in schools as nationwide protests against the murder and rape of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s government-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last month continue.
The Apex court on Friday sought the Central government’s response on a petition seeking to introduce anti-rape laws and rights available to women in the school syllabus. The petitioner said that increasing crimes against women suggests that the problem is not being addressed from the grassroots level. It emphasized the need to send a message to the public about how there is zero tolerance to rape in the country and equality between the two genders.
The petition said that the existing laws including life imprisonment or death sentences to the accused are unable to address the root cause of the issue and called for addressing the societal attitudes towards women and changing the “prevailing mindset that perpetuates inequality.” A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud issued notice on the petition filed by senior advocate Aabad Harshad Ponda.
Ponda said that the recent rape and murder at the RG Kar Hospital was the motivation behind filing the petition. Ponda, a noted criminal lawyer practicing in the Bombay High Court, said, “The problem is not being addressed from the grassroot level of the real cause for the same. The element of justice lies in filling up the gap of communication between the existence of the laws which are made by the legislature and the proper communication and dissemination of the laws to all sections of the society.” The petition sought directives to incorporate penal laws of the country in the syllabus and moral training to ensure awareness on “sexual equality”. The petitions emphasized upon the importance to change the mindset of boys and men. He said that awareness should be spread through different mediums including advertisements, seminars, pamphlets, documentaries and films.
Get the Latest News Updates and Stay Informed with FELA NEWS!
Source: Times Now
