Top Court Overturns High Court Verdict Advising Girls To "Control Sexual Urges"

The Supreme Court today set aside an order of the Calcutta High Court in which it acquitted an accused in a sexual assault case and made "objectionable" observations advising adolescent girls to "control sexual urges" and protect their right to the integrity of their bodies.

A bench of justices Abhay S Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan also issued guidelines for the judges on how to write judgments in cases involving adolescents. It stressed that special sensitivity and precaution will be required in cases related to adolescents.

The Supreme Court also overturned the Calcutta High Court's decision to acquit a man who was convicted for raping a minor girl, with whom he had a "romantic affair", according to Bar and Bench. While upholding the conviction, the Supreme Court bench said a committee of experts would decide on the punishment for the man in the rape case.

The Supreme Court's verdict came after the Calcutta High Court last year asked adolescent girls to control their sexual urges and should not fall for two minutes of pleasure. The High Court judgment triggered controversy as it called for a "duty/obligation-based approach" for adolescents.

In January, the Supreme Court came down heavily on the Calcutta High Court over its controversial ruling and said that such judgments "were absolutely wrong". "It's not only about these observations, but the findings of the court. Writing such judgments is absolutely wrong. What kind of principles have the judges invoked?" the Supreme Court had said.