Boys need to be educated and sensitized about gender equality, and their mindset needs to change, the Bombay High Court on Tuesday said.
Noting that male dominance and chauvinism persist in the society and hence the need to teach boys about right and wrong behavior from an early age, a division bench of Justice Revathi Mohate Dere and Justice Prithvi Raj Chavan studied the issue. suggested to set up a committee to do And give suggestions to avoid such incidents in future.
Also read: The fact-finding committee identified school malpractices in the Badlapur rape case.
The court was hearing a petition filed by a pre-primary school in Badlapur East following the uproar over the sexual assault of two 4-year-old girls by a watchman. The incident has sparked massive protests across the state.
The court said that the education department should take steps to ensure that children are taught about gender equality and gender sensitivity right from the pre-primary level. “Male dominance and male chauvinism are still there. Unless we teach our children equality at home, nothing will happen. Until then, all these laws like Nirbhaya will not work,” the bench said.
“We always talk about girls. Why don't we teach boys right from wrong? We need to change the mindset of boys when they are young. Teach them to respect women,” the judges said, adding that Emphasizing the need for proper awareness.
Also read: Badlapur case accused in judicial custody, SIT to conduct identification parade
The court recommended that a committee comprising a retired judge, a retired police officer, a retired principal, a woman IPS officer, and a member of the Child Welfare Committee be constituted to study the matter and Recommend following rules and regulations. Schools should avoid such incidents in future.
During Tuesday's hearing on the matter, the judges again expressed displeasure over the initial handling of the investigation by the Badlapur police and said the police should have shown some sensitivity.
“One of the girls and her family were asked to come to the police station to record their statement. The Badlapur police did not even attempt to record their statement at their house. There has been a serious lapse in the investigation by the Badlapur police,” he said. The judges said.
Advocate General (AG) Birendra Saraf said that three police officers have been suspended. The Advocate General further said that the accused had three marriages and had recorded the statements of his wives. Responding to a court question about the CCTV footage from the school premises, he said the hard disk had been recovered and was being scrutinised.
The bench also expressed displeasure that a male doctor had initially examined the girls.
The Education Officer stayed the suspension.
A Thane education officer moved the High Court on Tuesday seeking a stay on his suspension in light of the alleged molestation of two girls at a school in Badlapur, claiming that the government's order was politically motivated and He was made a scapegoat. The officer, Balasaheb Rakshe, appealed to the court to stay the suspension order pending the final hearing of his plea before the Maharashtra Administrative Tribunal (MAT), which had on August 26 refused to grant him interim relief. Other officers in the post.