The Supreme Court acquitted a woman convicted under Section 498-A IPC, observing that “word spreads faster than the wind” about dowry harassment. The bench set aside the Uttarakhand High Court’s order citing lack of reliable evidence.
The article critiques society’s desensitization to rape and the reactionary nature of legislative changes that follow high-profile cases of sexual violence. It highlights West Bengal’s “Aparajita Woman and Child Bill 2024,” which introduces the death penalty for rapists, as an example of this approach. The author argues that new laws aren’t the solution, pointing to the ineffectiveness of existing legislation due to poor enforcement and deeper societal issues like patriarchy and the objectification of women. The article calls for a shift from creating more laws to ensuring the proper implementation of existing ones, while addressing underlying misogyny to bring about real change.
Today, On 3rd May, The Supreme Court emphasized legal reforms within the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita to address cruelty against women, urging the Centre to review sections 85 and 86 to prevent exploitation. The focus on strengthening legal frameworks aims to enhance protections for women and prevent misuse, promoting fairness and efficiency in legal proceedings.
