Thu Dec 19 21:27:00 UTC 2024: ## Supreme Court Condemns Bihar Witchcraft Assault, Revives Criminal Case
**New Delhi, December 20, 2024** – The Supreme Court of India has strongly condemned the inhumane treatment of two women in Bihar who were falsely accused of witchcraft in 2020. In a landmark judgment delivered Thursday, the court ruled that the disrobing, assault, and public humiliation inflicted upon the victims constituted a violation of their constitutional rights to equality and dignity.
The court criticized both the Patna High Court for staying criminal proceedings against the accused and the Bihar government for failing to ensure justice for the women. Justice Sanjay Karol, in a 19-page judgment, noted the deep-rooted connection between witchcraft accusations, superstition, patriarchy, and social control, highlighting that such allegations disproportionately target widows and elderly women often due to caste discrimination or retaliation for defying social norms.
The Supreme Court emphasized that any act undermining an individual’s dignity, whether by private individuals or the state, contravenes the spirit of the Indian Constitution. The court’s decision to revive the criminal trial underscores the ongoing struggle to protect vulnerable women from exploitation, despite legislative and judicial efforts. The justices acknowledged that the impact of these efforts has yet to reach the grassroots level.
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