On the eve of International Women’s Day, Justice Bela M. Trivedi emphasized that we need to empower women through strict implementation of laws, not mere sympathy, in cases of sexual harassment and violence.
NEW DELHI: On the eve of International Women’s Day, the Supreme Court of India, on Friday (March 7, 2025), made a significant observation emphasizing the need for women’s empowerment rather than mere sympathy in cases of sexual harassment and violence.
The remarks were made by Justice Bela M. Trivedi, one of the only two women judges currently serving on the Supreme Court Bench, alongside Justice B.V. Nagarathna, who is poised to become the first woman Chief Justice of India.
The statement came during the hearing of a case where the accused, currently imprisoned for seven months, had approached the Supreme Court seeking reconsideration of his sentence. The case, originating from Tamil Nadu, involved allegations of sexual harassment and physical assault, where the survivor sustained injuries on her neck, which the accused’s counsel attempted to downplay as a “simple” injury.
Empowerment, Not Sympathy
During the hearing, the senior advocate representing the accused contended that
“Societal sympathy often aligns with survivors in such cases, suggesting that the accused had already undergone significant punishment through prolonged incarceration“
In response to this argument, Justice Trivedi firmly stated that
“women do not need sympathy, but empowerment.”
She further emphasized that empowerment must be facilitated through the
“strict implementation of laws aimed at safeguarding women from violence, abuse, and harassment”
Justice Trivedi’s remarks came in direct response to the senior advocate’s submission that
“ladies at home” should be empowered”
Correcting the advocate’s limited perspective, Justice Trivedi clarified that her statement extended beyond homemakers, asserting that
women everywhere—irrespective of their social or professional background—need to be empowered
The senior advocate promptly conceded, agreeing that empowerment should extend to all women.
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Attempt to Murder, Not a Simple Injury
A pivotal moment during the hearing arose when the advocate attempted to minimize the gravity of the assault by referring to the injury on the survivor’s neck as a “simple” injury. The advocate argued that the
“Case did not amount to attempt to murder and thus urged the court to reconsider the severity of the punishment”
However, Justice Trivedi, referencing the findings of two lower courts, firmly disagreed.
The court emphasized that the
mark on the survivor’s neck was not merely a simple injury but a visible sign of a strangulation attempt using a nylon rope.
Justice Trivedi pointed out that two courts had already confirmed the finding of an attempted murder based on the evidence presented.
The Supreme Court, in response, issued a notice to the State of Tamil Nadu, limited to the consideration of the sentence imposed on the accused.
Strict Implementation of Law is Key
Justice Trivedi highlighted the
“significance of ensuring strict and effective implementation of laws to protect women against all forms of violence and discrimination”
She reiterated that
“mere sympathy for women is insufficient and that society must actively strive for their empowerment”
Her observations highlighted a broader concern about the
downplaying of violence against women and the necessity of robust legal frameworks to address such acts.
As the hearing concluded, the Bench reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that
violence against women is met with strict legal consequences while simultaneously fostering a social environment where women can live with dignity, freedom, and security.
The matter is now scheduled for further consideration, specifically regarding the quantum of the sentence awarded to the accused.
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