Gujarat High Court Raises Concerns Over Women’s Safety Following Police Extortion Incident
In a recent hearing, the Gujarat High Court expressed grave concerns over the safety of women, especially during the night, in light of an incident involving police extortion of an Ahmedabad couple.
Senior Advocate Shalin Mehta, assisting the Court, emphasized the necessity of including women constables in patrolling teams, especially during nighttime. He remarked,
“The instant incident is scary. Imagine what might happen with a woman travelling alone or with children.”
Responding to Mehta’s concerns, the Chief Justice stated,
“Indeed. Anything could have had happened. One constable was sitting in the car; the other went to the ATM.”
Luvkumar-Shah, representing the State, countered by mentioning that women constables are already part of night patrolling teams. However, she promised to verify this claim and provide further details in the subsequent hearing. Addressing her, Chief Justice Agarwal commented,
“But then you will also have to ensure the safety of your women constables.”
Highlighting the upcoming festive season, the bench emphasized the increased responsibility on the State to guarantee women’s safety. Luvkumar-Shah sought to reassure the Court, stating,
“Milords, Gujarat is one of the safest places. We have everybody on the streets late night. But of course, what is needed to be done will be done.”
The dialogue between the Court and the State underscores the pressing need to prioritize women’s safety, especially in the context of incidents that challenge public trust in law enforcement agencies. The upcoming hearings will likely shed more light on the measures the State intends to implement to address these concerns.
