Judicial Activism
In a bid to protect the rights of sex workers, a Supreme Court panel said that adults participating with consent in prostitution should not face criminal action or interference by the police.
In yet another progressive move, a Supreme Court bench, directed the State government to appoint a woman Excise Sub Inspector as Deputy Superintendent of Police after granting her relief in the upper age limit.
The Supreme Court has asked states and Union territories to frame rules to grant a uniform compensation of Rs 10 lakh to victims of sexual assault and exploitation.
Civil Society Campaigns
The Bhumata Ranaragini Brigade, which raised the issue of allowing women into the sanctum sanctorum of the Shani Signapur temple, have now issued a letter to the chairperson of the Trimbakeshwar Temple Trust (near Nasik) appealing to allow women devotees to enter the temple’s core area before Mahashivaratri.
The #HappyToBleed campaigners have now taken the campaign one step further and have filed an intervention application in the apex court questioning the discrimination women face owing to menstrual taboos.
Attack on Soni Suri
Aam Aadmi Party leader and human rights activist Soni Sori was attacked by unidentified men in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. Sori was also reportedly asked to vacate her house by local authorities, who cited some irregularities and in recent times received death threats.
JNU Updates
The family of Umar Khalid, a JNU student accused of being a terrorist, have received threats following the debate on news channels Times Now and Zee News.
The Delhi High Court is likely to hear the bail plea of student leader Kanhaiya Kumar on Tuesday. The Supreme Court refused to hear the bail plea earlier and asked him to approach the high court.
Reports & Data
According to a recent field-based study carried out in Nagaland, Meghalaya and the hill districts of Assam, conducted by Centre for Development and Peace Studies (CDPS), denial of tickets to contest elections by political parties and the attempt to sideline women by leaders of traditional institutions are among the reasons for the low representation of women in decision-making bodies.
According to figures collate by 181 Abhayam, Gujarat’s government helpline for women, a little over one fourth of calls were either to seek ways out of abusive marriages or to learn about women’s rights and options if they are victims of abuse.
Sports
At the recently concluded South Asian Games, our women won 89 gold, 37 silver and 13 bronze medals – making it a total of 139 medals!
Other News
The deputy mayor of Gurgaon, Parminder Kataria, has now been booked for thrashing and beating up a woman, who had earlier filed a rape case against him.
Mumbai police registered an FIR against a man who identifies as Amrendra Kumar Singh on Twitter after he threatened a female journalist (on Twitter) with gang-rape for condemning an attack on journalists at a hearing of Jawaharlal Nehru University student leader Kanhaiya Kumar.
Prithika Yashini, the first trans-woman to join the police force in Tamil Nadu, received her appointment order from the Salem Police Commissioner is all set to take charge.
In Suraj village (100 km from the Gujarat’s financial capital of Ahmedabad), the panchayat decided to fine women Rs 2,100 for using or possessing a mobile phone. The informer gets Rs 200 as reward.
Reported Rapes & Rape Case Updates
Several cases of rape and child sexual abuse were reported. Some verdicts & sentences were also declared.
In Delhi, a juvenile who is under trial on rape charges, hanged himself from a ceiling fan in the correctional home where he was lodged.
In Bihar, RJD MLA Bhallabh Yadav is facing rape charges. As the court put off the hearing because he is absconding, the police took his son into custody on the charge of destroying evidence.
The UP government is going to challenge the acquittal of 14 accused in two gang rape and murder cases related to the 2013 Muzzafarnagar riots.
A rape survivor in Gujarat has moved the High Court to seek termination of her 21-week pregnancy.
In Uttar Pradesh, police have detained two caddies of Lucknow Golf Club in connection with the rape and murder of a 17-year-old girl whose body was found in the vicinity of Chief Minister’s residence.
Featured Image Credit: Soni Sori attacked | https://www.facebook.com
