Union Minister Annapurna Devi speaks to media outside Parliament on March 21, 2025.
| Photo Credit: Videograb/X@PTI_News
Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi on Friday (March 21, 2025) said she “completely disagreed” with Allahabad High Court’s ruling on what constituted rape or attempt to rape and urged the Supreme Court to intervene in the matter.
The High Court, in an order earlier this week, ruled that mere “grabbing of breasts and snapping pyjama strings did not amount to rape or attempt to rape” but fell under the ambit of assault or use of criminal force against any woman with the intent to disrobe or compel her to be naked.
“I am completely against this decision and the Supreme Court should take serious note of it. Such a ruling has no place in a civilised society,” Ms. Devi told PTI Videos outside Parliament.
She also expressed concern over the broader implications of the judgment, warning that it could send the wrong message to society.
“Somewhere, this will have a negative impact on society and we will discuss this matter further,” she added.
The case involved an 11-year-old girl in Uttar Pradesh, who was assaulted by two accused, identified as Pawan and Akash, in 2021.
The accused grabbed her breasts, snapped her pyjama strings and attempted to drag her under a culvert. The assailants fled when passersby intervened.
Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal also slammed the ruling as “shameful” and “absolutely wrong”. She questioned the message such a ruling sent to society, particularly regarding crimes against children.
“This is deeply shameful and absolutely wrong. What message do they want to give to society? That a young girl can be subjected to such horrific acts and it still won’t be considered rape?” she told reporters outside Parliament.
CPI general secretary D. Raja has also slammed the judge’s remarks on sexual violence as “appalling”.
“Grabbing breasts or snapping a pyjama string isn’t ‘attempt to rape’? This trivialises sexual violence and shows the tight grip of patriarchy on our institutions. The law must prioritise survivors’ trauma, not minimise it,” he said in a post on X on Thursday (March 20, 2025).
“People see the judiciary as the last hope and such conduct puts a question mark before the credibility of the judiciary. Shameful!” he added.
Published – March 21, 2025 05:29 pm IST
