The Karnataka High Court has determined that inscribing a woman’s cellular contact within a communal lavatory, advertising her as a “courtesan,” not only devalues the woman’s esteem but also inflicts psychological anguish. The tribunal declined to nullify the prosecution against the perpetrator involved in such conduct.

Alla Baksha Patil, a dweller of Chitradurga, lodged a plea with the court to annul the case brought against him by the Upparapet law enforcement in Bengaluru and to initiate an investigation. This decree was issued by the panel presided over by Justice M Nagaprasanna, who oversaw the matter. Moreover, it rejected the plea to dismiss the indictment against the petitioner.

“Exposing a woman’s privacy inflicts profound emotional trauma upon her individuality, as well as wounds her spirit. It inflicts more agony than physical harm. Engaging in such actions against a woman results in a distressing ordeal,” articulated the panel.

“The conduct perpetrated by the petitioner diminishes the dignity of a woman by inscribing salacious remarks about her, inciting the populace to make licentious calls. Physical injury is not imperative in the current digital epoch. A woman’s honor can be compromised by disseminating derogatory remarks, images, or videos on social media nowadays. Therefore, in such instances, if the accused petitions the court to quash the case, there is no justification for judicial intervention,” expounded the panel.

“Sexual brutality against women epitomizes the most barbaric acts. Nevertheless, in the present circumstance, the woman’s entitlement to privacy has been violated. Such behavior is indefensible. These instances necessitate stringent action. The conduct of the petitioner has resulted in the debasement and humiliation of the woman in public. Such accusations cannot be evaded,” the panel declared.

Furthermore, the panel declared that the investigators were at liberty to interrogate another woman who furnished the victim’s mobile numbers to the defendant.

Context of the matter: The mobile number of a wedded woman, serving as a subordinate health aide in a primary health facility in Chitradurga district, began to receive unsolicited calls from anonymous individuals at untimely hours. Her safety was imperiled. Subsequent scrutiny of these calls revealed that “courtesan (Belevennu) can be contacted” and the telephone numbers were inscribed on the walls of the gentlemen’s convenience at the Majestic Bus Stand in Bengaluru.

In light of this, the woman filed a complaint with the CEN station in Chitradurga, urging an inquiry into a female staff member who collaborated with her at the health center. The Chitradurga police recorded the complaint and transferred the case to the Upparapet police station in Bengaluru.

The authorities, upon investigating the complaint, interrogated the junior aide of the primary health center where the complainant was employed. During the interrogation, “The complainant woman was harassing me. Therefore, I divulged her mobile number to my acquaintance (petitioner) to impart a lesson. I instructed him to issue a cautionary call to her via the senior officials. However, he inscribed her mobile number on the lavatory wall,” divulged the junior aide during the police interrogation.