Satya Prakash
New Delhi, December 16
On the occasion of the 12th anniversary of the Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case, the Supreme Court today directed the central government and various ministries on a public interest petition seeking to issue guidelines for the entire country to provide a safe environment for women, children and transgenders. Notice has been issued to However, the Supreme Court has described some of the arguments in the petition as ‘uncivilized’ and ‘harsh’. The bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujal Bhuiyan agreed to examine the public interest petition filed by the Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association and scheduled the next hearing of the matter for January.
The bench directed that notices be issued to all concerned and various ministries through the Attorney General’s office. Meanwhile, senior advocate Mahalakshmi Pavani, appearing for the petitioner, said that many incidents of sexual harassment against women have taken place in small cities, which have not been reported. Pavani said, “After the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital incident in Kolkata, where a trainee doctor was raped and murdered, about 95 incidents of sexual violence have gone unreported.” Pavani demanded that Convicts should be given severe punishments like banishment like Scandinavian countries (Norway, Sweden, Denmark). Justice Surya Kant said, “We appreciate the relief sought for the common woman, who is facing a struggle in her daily life,” terming the arguments in the petition as “uncivilized” and “harsh”. Justice Surya Kant said that some of the issues raised are very innovative, which need to be examined.