Overview

• The Supreme Court criticized the Allahabad High Court for stating that a rape victim 'herself invited trouble,' calling the remarks highly insensitive and inappropriate.
• The apex court emphasized the importance of judicial sensitivity in cases of sexual violence to avoid public perceptions of victim-blaming.
• Justice BR Gavai questioned why such remarks were made in a bail order, asserting that judges must exercise caution in their language.
• The Supreme Court stayed the high court's controversial observations and adjourned the case for four weeks to allow for further examination of judicial conduct.
• This intervention follows a pattern of scrutiny by the Supreme Court over insensitive rulings by the Allahabad High Court, including a previous case where actions against a minor were deemed not to constitute an attempt to rape.