WCD Minister Slams Allahabad HC Verdict Downgrading Rape Charges to Assault:

Union Minister of Women and Child Development Annapurna Devi on Friday expressed strong opposition to a recent Allahabad High Court ruling, which stated that grabbing a minor girl's breasts and breaking her pyjama string does not constitute rape. The minister labeled the decision as “wrong” and warned that it sends a damaging message to society.

Minister Urges Supreme Court Intervention

Speaking to reporters outside the Lok Sabha, Devi urged the Supreme Court to take serious note of the ruling.

"I am completely against this decision and the Supreme Court should take serious note of it. Such a ruling has no place in a civilized society," she told PTI.

The Controversial Verdict

The ruling in question was delivered by Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra, who presided over a single-judge bench at the Allahabad High Court. The judgment modified charges originally filed under:

Section 376 of IPC (Rape)
Section 18 of the POCSO Act (Attempt to Commit Offence)

The court instead directed that the accused be tried under:

Section 354-B IPC (Intent to Disrobe)
Sections 9/10 of the POCSO Act (Aggravated Sexual Assault)

According to the judge, the allegations of grabbing breasts, attempting to disrobe, and dragging the girl were not sufficient to infer intent to rape, due to the absence of further acts.

Case Background

The incident took place on November 10, 2021, in Uttar Pradesh. As per the FIR:

A woman and her 14-year-old daughter were returning home.
Three men from their village—Pawan, Akash, and Ashok—approached them.
Pawan offered to drop the girl home on his motorcycle.
He and Akash allegedly stopped midway, assaulted the girl, and tried to drag her under a culvert before fleeing.

Public and Political Response

The verdict has drawn widespread criticism. Swati Maliwal, Rajya Sabha MP and former Delhi Commission for Women chief, called the court's interpretation “insensitive” and “dangerous for society.”