Supreme Court Seeks Realistic, Time‑Bound Phased Measures To Strengthen Women's Safety Across India

The Supreme Court has voiced strong concern over the rising number of brutal crimes against women, saying the court feels “ashamed” hearing repeated incidents, including cases of women being burnt alive.

The remarks were made during a hearing on a plea by the Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association, seeking strict, time-bound measures for women’s safety.

The petition sought mandatory chemical castration and polygraph tests for all sexual offenders, a national sex offender registry accessible to the public, and harsher penalties, including life imprisonment.

The Court criticised the system’s failure in rural areas, urged short- and long-term reforms, and suggested empowering women Sarpanch as paralegal officers.

(Supreme Court Women Lawyers Association v UOI & Ors.)