Supreme Court issues guidelines for trial of sexual assault cases setting aside rakhi-for-bail order

The Supreme Court, on Thursday, issued detailed guidelines on how cases involving sexual assault should be handled by all courts. The Supreme Court emphasised the need to cultivate sensitivity among judges and lawyers.

“Judges play — at all levels — a vital role as teachers and thought-leaders. It is their role to be impartial in words and action, at all times. If they falter, especially in gender-related crimes, they imperil fairness and inflict great cruelty in the casual blindness to the despair of the survivors..." The Supreme Court of India made this observation on Thursday as it detailed guidelines on how cases involving sexual assault must be handled. The Supreme Court emphasised the need to cultivate sensitivity among judges and lawyers in dealing with cases involving sexual assault. The bench, which had Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice S Ravindra Bhat, asked the National Judicial Academy (NJA) and the Bar Council of India (BCI) to create training modules on gender sensitisation for judges and lawyers.