Sexual assault accuser wore ‘provocative’ clothing, Indian judge rules
The district court judge in Kerala state made the comments last week while granting anticipatory bail to a 74-year-old man accused of sexual harassment and assault, according to “Considering the stringent nature of punishment provided for the offense, in the opinion of this court, stricter proof and serious allegations are required,” the judge said. Legal reforms and more severe penalties for rape were introduced following the brutal 2012 gang-rape of a medical student in Delhi — including fast track courts to move rape cases through the justice system swiftly and an amended definition of rape to include anal and oral penetration.But activists and lawyers say more should be done to protect women. On Monday, 11 men jailed for life for the gang-rape of a pregnant Muslim woman during Hindu-Muslim riots in 2002 were freed on remission, drawing condemnation from the victim’s family, lawyers and politicians.
