The National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW) has issued a strong condemnation of the recent judgment by Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra of the Allahabad High Court. The judgment, dated March 19, ruled that "grabbing the breast of a girl and breaking her pant string is not an attempt to rape, but an attempt to sexually molest."
The case in question pertains to a 2021 incident in Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh, where an 11-year-old girl was attacked by two men. The attackers grabbed her breast, broke the string of her salwar, and attempted to push her under a bridge. The girl was rescued by passersby, and her mother subsequently filed a case. The accused later sought relief from the Allahabad High Court.
Justice Mishra's interpretation of the incident as "preparation for the crime" rather than "an actual attempt" has sparked outrage. NFIW criticized the judgment for perpetuating a culture of minimizing violence against women and for violating Section 7 of the POCSO Act, which defines sexual assault as any act involving physical contact with sexual intent.
In its statement, NFIW described the judgment as a "blatant rejection of the core tenets of the Constitution" and an attempt to institutionalize patriarchal ideologies. The organization has demanded the immediate revocation of the judgment and the removal of Justice Mishra, citing his failure to uphold constitutional principles of equality and justice.
NFIW emphasized the need for urgent action to set a precedent of zero tolerance for anti-women judgments, which it claims are on the rise.
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