- By Aditya Jha
- Sat, 28 Dec 2024 04:39 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
The Madras High Court on Saturday expressed concern over the handling of the case of sexual assault of an Anna University student. The court directed that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will probe the case and ordered the state government to pay an interim compensation of Rs 25 lakh to the victim for the "serious lapse" by police.
The court emphasised that police made a serious mistake by revealing the details of the 19-year-old victim in the first information report (FIR). The police had published the details of the FIR on the police website. A bench of Justice SM Subramaniam and Justice V Lakshminarayan ordered that the SIT will comprise three officers of the Indian Police Service (IPS). The bench also instructed the police to provide protection to the victim and her whole family.
The court, after going through the FIR, pointed out that it is an example of victim blaming. "Have you read the FIR? It is an example of victim blaming," the Bench was quoted as saying by the Bar and Bench. "The deplorable language of the FIR paves the way for victim blaming. It is shocking," the Court later said to Advocate General (AG) PS Raman during the hearing. The court
The court emphasised that the FIR led to more mental agony for her. "It has led to more mental agony for her," the Bench said. "This can't be done by blaming or shaming her. It is misogynistic. The Constitution doesn't differentiate between men and women, and the society must feel ashamed to put down women," it observed, the bar and bench reported.
It further asked why a woman cannot walk alone freely, dress the way she wishes to, or speak to a man without being judged. It was hearing a batch of petitions seeking directions related to the investigation of the case.