Racism in India
A 35-year-old woman in north Bengaluru died on Sunday after being rammed by a car driven by an African (Sudanese) student. But an irate mob assaulted a 21-year-old Tanzanian student, who came to the accident spot 30 minutes after the incident. She was also stripped and assaulted by the mob.
Judiciary on Women’s Rights
While hearing a Public Interest Litigation to ban surrogacy in India, the Centre claimed that women do not have a legal right to become surrogate mothers for commercial gains. Though several women who have been surrogate mothers moved to court to be heard, the government claimed that “The applicants (surrogate mothers) do not acquire any separate right to become surrogate mother(s).” Their stand basically infringed upon women’s reproductive rights.
While the Hindu Succession Amendment Act, 2005 gave daughters equal rights in property, a recent Delhi High Court ruling has done away with the gender discrimination that existed as the Hindu Succession Act was clear on whether a woman can be karta, meaning the manager of a joint family.
Islamic organisation Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind resisted the Supreme Court’s attempts to deal with various issues of rights, including gender bias against Muslim women. It told the apex court that a court cannot test the validity of personal law since it amounts to “judicial legislation.”
Juvenile Justice
A 16-year-old boy was arrested in Uttar Pradesh for raping a nine-year-old girl and would be tried as an adult in the case, the first in the state to be prosecuted under the amended Juvenile Justice law.
A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the new law passed by Parliament allowing suspects aged 16 years of age and above to be tried as adults if they commit heinous offences such as rape and murder.
Sports
The Indian women’s cricket team scripted history by clinching its maiden Twenty20 series win over three-time World champion Australia with a comprehensive 10-wicket triumph
Others
In a unique initiative, the women cell of the Navi Mumbai police’s crime branch visited 227 women, who are survivors of crimes like rape, molestation and dowry, to ensure that they are not being harassed by the accused.
One of our very own team members, Japleen Pasricha, was told that single women are not allowed to climb Charminar alone. However, when contacted, the Archeological Survey of India, refused any such rule.
Reported Rapes
Several cases of rape and child sexual abuse were filed. Verdicts and sentences have also been declared.
In Bangalore, the Vice Chancellor of Alliance University has been arrested on rape charges. One of his employees in the administrative department, who is also his niece has complained that he sexually abused her over a period of time.
A former priest attached to a temple was arrested from South Mumbai for raping and blackmailing a woman. Parmar, the accused, called the woman to his house in 2013 under the pretext of offering her a “special prasad”.
In Ranchi, the security guard at Mahatma Gandhi College & Hospital, has been arrested on charges of raping a girl who was already a survivor of rape.
Unable to bear the trauma following rape, a minor rape victim committed suicide. In her case, the victim’s family and the accused’s family reached a “compromise” and submitted it to the police station. The girl felt humiliated and decided to end her life.
Featured Image Credit: Times Of India
