Lot needs to be done on awareness on sexual offences law: HC

The Delhi High Court today said a lot has to be done to ensure spread of awareness regarding laws for safety of women and children against sexual offences.
"You have done lot of things with regard to creating awareness among the people at large but a lot of things were still to be done to ensure spread of awareness regarding laws for the safety of women and children," a bench of justices Kailash Gambhir and Sunita Gupta said.
The bench, which disposed of the matter, was perusing the reports of the Centre and the Delhi government on the issue of implementing its suggestions regarding creating mass awareness to bring down the sexual offences against women.

During the hearing today, the bench also applauded Delhi University student Jasleen Kaur, who was allegedly abused by a man at a traffic signal.
"We appreciate the girl for taking steps. We are glad that now girls are coming forward to complain about such harassment cases," the bench said.
It further said, "It is only two days back an incident had taken place where the girl complained about the lewd remarks made on her by the passerby. That is why the court thought mindset of people can be changed by launching mass awareness programme but despite various directions given by this court, success is not seen in near future."

Earlier, the bench had passed a slew of suggestions on the issue after which Delhi government apprised it that it has put up billboards, posters and started airing Radio jingles about child abuse, sexual harassment at workplace and domestic violence.

The bench had earlier suggested that public meetings should be organised by Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DLSA) and it should include distribution of pamphlets about these laws.
During the hearing, the bench directed both the Centre and Delhi government to implement its suggesstion passed on several ocassions.
"We expect the government to carry out the court's directions," the bench said, adding, "central government and Delhi government were duty bound to ensure that the citizens of Delhi are safe."

The bench had taken suo motu cognizance on the issue after disposing of an appeal filed by a man convicted for raping his minor daughter.