During most recent hearing, the CBSE, Kerala State Legal Services Authority (KELSA), and the State government all informed the Court of the measures they have already taken which by and large consisted of awareness classes. However, the general consensus was that more steps would be needed, the kind which can adapt to changing times.
The Court concurred with the parties and further said that the usual “bad touch/good touch” needs to be updated to a more nuanced version to actually be effective.
“The procedure to impart awareness on sexual crimes, presently in vogue, has not yielded the desired results as it falls woefully short of the requirements. Even the terms “good touch” and “bad touch”, which are informed as being taught in some schools, are noticed to be too wide and ambiguous. These wide terms may require better categorisation like “safe touch”, “unsafe touch”, “unwanted touch”, etc., not only to identify abuses but also to avoid false or wrong accusations,” the Court said.
It underscored that awareness of statutory provisions relating to sexual offences and other allied matters is to be made part of the curriculum, to be taught at regular intervals as a measure of prevention-based orientation so as to prevent commission of such offences.
In the instant case, the Court confirmed the grant of bail to the petitioner and closed the case.
Source: Barandbench
