Now Reading: SC judge flags Karnataka HC amendment, urges legal aid for women
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SC judge flags Karnataka HC amendment, urges legal aid for women
Supreme Court judge Justice B V Nagarathna on Saturday advocated for legal aid to women immediately after an incident, at police stations or hospitals. Speaking at a conference in Bengaluru, she flagged…
The Story in Brief
Supreme Court judge Justice B V Nagarathna on Saturday advocated for legal aid to women immediately after an incident, at police stations or hospitals. Speaking at a conference in Bengaluru, she flagged recent Karnataka amendments that have reduced the High Court's jurisdiction over first appeals, calling this a disadvantage for women. She cited NCRB data showing 4,41,534 crimes against women in 2024 and a conviction rate of one in five. Justice Nagarathna also noted that 4,14,795 women availed legal aid between April 2025 and March 2026, and urged a study on the Nirbhaya Fund's utilisation.
The Indian Opinion
Justice Nagarathna's call for immediate legal aid is welcome, but systemic change needs more than speeches. The Karnataka HC amendment is a genuine concern, yet critics should also examine if it was intended to reduce pendency. The real test will be whether the state government responds to her appeal to repeal the provision. Until then, women litigants in Karnataka remain at a disadvantage compared to other states.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
