Delhi High Court emphasizes educating minors on ‘virtual touch’ alongside traditional teachings of ‘good touch’ and ‘bad touch’ to promote online safety in the digital era.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
NEW DELHI: Recently, The Delhi High Court emphasized the need for educating minors about the emerging concept of ‘virtual touch’ in addition to the traditional notions of ‘good touch’ and ‘bad touch’. The Court highlighted the importance of online safety in a world where virtual interactions have become increasingly prevalent.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, addressing the dangers minors face in the digital realm, stated-
“This court observes with concern that in today’s digital age, where virtual interactions among teenagers are increasingly common, they may lack the awareness to recognize and address the risks of human trafficking for prostitution and other criminal activities that exist in the virtual realm.”
The Court observed that merely educating children about sexual harassment through concepts like ‘good touch’ and ‘bad touch’ is not sufficient to protect them from the myriad threats in the virtual world.
Justice Sharma emphasized-
“Similar to teaching children caution in the physical realm, it is essential to educate them on cultivating critical thinking abilities to evaluate the reliability of online connections and protect their personal data.”
The judge further emphasized the importance of teaching minors about appropriate online behavior, recognizing warning signs of predatory behavior, and understanding the importance of privacy settings and online boundaries. The Court’s observations were made during the hearing of a case involving a woman, Kamlesh Devi, who was accused of involvement in the kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl.
ALSO READ: Patna High Court Denies Minor Wife’s Custody to Husband, Orders Financial Support for Newborn
Background:
The case involved a minor girl who befriended a man named Rajiv, the son of Kamlesh Devi, on social media. She was allegedly kidnapped, confined, and subjected to sexual assault. The Court denied bail to Devi, and highlighted the severity of the issues at hand.
The Court ordered-
“The current necessity calls for conveying a message to relevant stakeholders, including schools, colleges, the Delhi State Legal Services Authority, and the Delhi Judicial Academy, to organize programs, workshops, and conferences. These events should address not only the conventional notions of ‘Good’ and ‘Bad Touch’ but also the emerging concept of ‘Virtual Touch’ and its associated risks.”
Justice Sharma’s ruling emphasizes the critical need for educational programs that address online safety and virtual interactions. The case serves as a reminder of the evolving dangers minors face online and the importance of proactive education to safeguard them from virtual threats.
Kamlesh Devi was represented by advocates Amit Prasad, Rajeev Ranjan, Rishikesh Kumar, Ayodhya Prasad, Arpit Tripathi, Chanya Jaitley, Niaz Baldawala, and Kavya Agarwal.
The Delhi Police was represented by Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Manoj Pant, along with advocates Saurabh Das, Paramveer, Lalit Kumar, and Ashok Kumar Shukla. The Court directed that the order be forwarded to the Delhi Judicial Academy and Delhi State Legal Services Authority for information and compliance.
ALSO READ: Bombay High Court Revokes Bail in Instagram Minor Blackmail Case
CASE TITLE:
Kamlesh Devi v State of NCT of Delhi & Anr.
