While hearing a petition in the Badlapur sexual harassment case, the Bombay High Court made an important comment.
The court on Tuesday said boys need to be educated and sensitised about gender equality from an early age.
Along with this, their thinking also needs to be changed. The division bench of Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Prithviraj Chavan said these things while hearing the suo motu petition.
It was said that male dominance and male chauvinism (belief of superiority over women) still prevail in the society. Therefore, boys should be taught about right and wrong behavior from an early age.
The court stressed on studying this issue and the rules to be followed in schools to avoid such incidents. Also, it suggested forming a committee regarding this. Two 4-year-old girls were sexually abused in a school in Badlapur.
The incident triggered protests, with the state government assuring strict action against the culprit. The court reiterated its displeasure over the manner in which the initial investigation was conducted by the Badlapur police. It said the police should have shown some sensitivity.
3 police officers suspended
The bench said, “One of the victim girls and her family were asked to come to the police station to record their statement. Badlapur police did not even attempt to record their statement at their home. There is a serious lapse in the investigation by Badlapur police.”
Maharashtra Advocate General Birendra Saraf admitted the lapse. He said that 3 police officers of Badlapur police station have been suspended.
Dalat said the state education department can take steps to ensure that children are taught about gender equality and gender sensitivity right from the pre-primary level in schools.
‘The mindset of boys needs to be changed’
The bench said, ‘Male dominance and male chauvinistic mindset still prevail. Unless we teach our children equality at home, nothing will happen. Until then laws like Nirbhaya and other laws will not be effective.
We always talk about girls. Why don’t we tell boys what is right and what is wrong? We need to change the mindset of boys at a young age.
Teach them to respect women.’ The court suggested forming a committee comprising a retired judge, retired policeman, retired principal, woman IPS officer and a member of the child welfare committee. This committee can study the issue and recommend rules to be followed in schools to avoid such incidents in future.
‘Background checks of employees should be done’
The bench said it will hear the matter further on September 3, by which time the government will inform it about the committee. The court asked, ‘Every educational institution should check the background of its employees from time to time. All these things are required to be done by every school.
Has this school done this?’ The Attorney General’s reply was negative. He said that the accused’s parents are employed in the same school, so he was also employed.
The court also sought to know if the CCTV footage from the school premises has been recovered and preserved. Saraf said the hard disk has been recovered and is being examined.
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