The Supreme Court of India, led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, on Friday, directed the Centre and other relevant entities to respond to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) aimed at enhancing public awareness about the legal ramifications of rape and sexual offences under the POCSO Act. The PIL, filed by lawyer and senior advocate Aabad Harshad Ponda in a personal capacity, seeks to implement educational measures to bolster the safety and dignity of women and girls across the country.
During the session, Justice Chandrachud, alongside Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, engaged with Ponda’s compelling arguments, issuing notices to the Union Ministries of Education, Information and Broadcasting, as well as the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC). The bench acknowledged the timeliness and significance of the plea, especially as it coincides with their deliberations on a related POCSO case. “We will list it after the judgment,” stated the Chief Justice.
Ponda emphasized the critical need for widespread educational campaigns about the legal deterrents to rape, particularly the revisions following the infamous Nirbhaya case in 2013. He argued that a substantial portion of the population remains uninformed about these laws, which could potentially prevent such crimes.
The PIL proposes several specific actions, including directives for the Education Ministry to integrate discussions of legal protections against sexual offences into the curriculum of schools providing free and compulsory education to children up to age 14. Moreover, it calls for the inclusion of moral education to foster awareness of gender equality and the rights of women and girls.
Additionally, the petition urges the Centre to facilitate local and state-level educational initiatives using advertisements, seminars, pamphlets, and other communication methods to disseminate information about the laws concerning rape and other sexual offences against women and children.
The plea also extends to the broadcasting sector, seeking directives for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and entities like the CBFC to promote awareness about the consequences of committing rape and the protective measures of the POCSO Act.
