Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas held that courts must avoid falling prey to stereotyped notions, myths and generalisations about what appropriate conduct might be, especially in cases involving sexual offences against women.
Such “rape myths” include chastity, resistance to rape, behaving in a certain way etc.
“Courts must also avoid scrutinizing feminine conduct from a masculine point of view. Myths, stereotyping and even generalisation, which are all different forms of bias, must be avoided…the stereotyped notions of chastity, resistance to rape, having visible physical injuries, behaving in a certain way, reporting the offence immediately, etc are all rape myths,” the Court said in its order.
Source: Barandbench
