Supreme Court Stays Allahabad High Court's Downgrade of Sexual Assault Charges

The Supreme Court criticized the Allahabad High Court's March 17 ruling as insensitive, stayed its observations, and initiated suo motu proceedings to address the legal misstep.

The Supreme Court stayed the Allahabad High Court's ruling that actions like grabbing breasts and pulling a pyjama string do not constitute an attempt to rape.
A bench led by Justices BR Gavai and Augustine George Masih deemed the ruling insensitive and inhumane, highlighting a lack of judicial sensitivity in the judgment.
The court initiated suo motu proceedings following a letter from senior advocate Shobha Gupta, who raised concerns about the judgment's implications for justice and societal norms.
Notices have been issued to the Centre, Uttar Pradesh government, and other parties involved, with the victim's mother’s appeal tagged to the case for further hearings.
The next hearing is scheduled for two weeks from March 26, 2025, as the Supreme Court seeks to address the broader legal and societal implications of the case.