The Karnataka High Court on Monday criticised the onlookers’ inaction when a woman was stripped naked in Belagavi and said that collective responsibility might be needed to prevent such incidents. It is not merely about “beti padhao” but also about “beta padhao”, the court observed, saying boys should be taught to respect women.
On December 13, a bench of Chief Justice Prasanna Varale and Justice MGS Kamal initiated suo motu proceedings over the incident in which a woman was stripped naked and attacked after her son eloped with a woman he was in love with.
Out of a crowd of 50-60 people, only one person, namely Jehangir, attempted to intervene, only for himself to be assaulted, a bench of Chief Justice Varale and Justice Krishna Dixit said Monday.
The judges suggested that like the assailants, the mute spectators who watched the Belagavi incident should also be held accountable. Further observing the reasons why people did not speak up, the judges said the witnesses might be apprehensive about court proceedings, adding that police stations barring exceptions did not often distinguish between witnesses and the accused.
Steps ought to be taken to fix collective responsibility, in line with Article 15 of the Constitution, (which forbids discrimination on grounds only of religion, race, caste, gender, or place of birth) the judges said, adding that without serious steps, there would not be an effective check on such incidents.
Earlier, Advocate-General Kiran Shetty stated that 11 accused had so far been arrested and that two others were absconding. The bench took note of his report that Rs 5 lakh had been provided to the woman under a chief minister’s scheme, and directed that a piece of land which was being given as compensation be handed over by January 1.
The bench observed that apart from the land and the Rs5-lakh compensation, Rs 50,000 had also been provided under the District Legal Services Authority. It directed that the full amount be released immediately instead of keeping 50 per cent in a fixed deposit.
When the court took cognisance of the incident, the bench of Chief Justice Prasanna Varale and Justice MGS Kamal expressed shock that such an incident could happen in the modern day and in a state which had been known for social justice.
It also restrained the electronic media from publishing videos or interviews that might disclose the victim’s identity, and called for a report on the matter by the advocate-general. In a later hearing, the court directed compensation to be provided to the victim and also referred to the Mahabharata, comparing the assault in Belagavi to the humiliation of Draupadi by Dushasana.
An order was passed on Saturday restraining visitors other than statutory bodies, family members of the woman and investigators from meeting her without the consent of the doctor treating her.
Further hearing of the matter has been set for the third week of January.
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