SC Verdict | "Inhuman": Top Court Pauses "Grabbing Breasts Not Rape Attempt" Verdict

Underlining a "total lack of sensitivity", the Supreme Court today paused the Allahabad High Court ruling in a child abuse case, in which the judge had observed that the grabbing of breast and pulling the string of a pyjama don't amount to a rape attempt. The bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih said it was pained to see some observations in the verdict and sought replies from the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh governments on the matter.

"We are pained to state that it shows a total lack of sensitivity on the part of the author of the judgment. It was not even at the spur of the moment and was delivered four months after reserving the same. Thus, there was application of mind. We are usually hesitant to grant stay at this stage. But since observations in paragraphs 21, 24 and 26 is unknown to cannons of law and shows inhuman approach, we stay the observations in said paras," the court ordered.