Supreme Court to Review Allahabad High Court’s Controversial Ruling on Sexual Assault
The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing to examine the March 17 judgment that downgraded charges in a sexual assault case involving a minor, citing concerns over judicial sensitivity and interpretation of sexual violence laws.
- The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the Allahabad High Court ruling on a 2021 sexual assault case involving a 14-year-old girl in Uttar Pradesh.
- The High Court downgraded charges from attempted rape to aggravated sexual assault, stating the actions did not meet the legal threshold for an attempt to rape.
- The ruling, delivered by Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra, has drawn widespread criticism from political leaders, activists, and legal experts for its perceived insensitivity and flawed reasoning.
- Senior advocate Shobha Gupta’s letter to the Chief Justice of India urged intervention, calling the judgment erroneous and harmful to public confidence in the judiciary.
- A Supreme Court bench of Justices BR Gavai and Augustine George Masih is set to hear the case on March 26, 2025, with calls for judicial reform and gender sensitization training gaining momentum.
Hindustan Times 