Delhi High Court rules against Victim Shaming as a Legal Strategy

As of July 1st 2024, The High Court of Delhi, India has made a revolutionary ruling : no victim shaming by any means may be allowed as a tool of legal strategy in cases of sexual offences against minors. This decision has emerged from years of silent survivors, precisely because taking legal action often renders plaintiffs into extreme disrepute within their local community.

Justice Sharma noted that the court must uphold the dignity and rights of not only the child victims but also their families, and that the justice system has a paramount duty to protect the most vulnerable, particularly children, from any form of secondary trauma caused by unjust accusations or demeaning narratives.

The Court further asserted that “taking a lenient view in such cases will discourage the real victims of such offences. The judiciary helps set societal norms and expectations regarding the protection of children by consistently condemning voyeuristic acts and emphasizing the sanctity of a child's privacy and dignity,"

This is an incredible victory for encouraging survivors of sexual assault to seek the justice they so clearly deserve.

Read More at : https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/cant-allow-victim-shaming-as-legal-strategy-in-sexual-assault-cases-delhi-high-court-6034077