Image source: indiatoday.com
Reminding the mandate of Section 228A of the J&K Ranbir Penalty Code, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court directed health professionals in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh to desist from the two-finger test on rape survivors. The Court also asked courts in the two UTs to avoid revealing the identity of survivors in proceedings and judgements.
The division bench of acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal and Justice Sanjay Dhar was hearing an appeal filed against a judgement passed by the Principal Sessions, Judge, Bhaderwah whereby the accused was acquitted of the charge of the rape.
The Court said,
"It is the need of the hour to implement the ban on 'two finger test' on rape survivors with full force and in this regard a direction is required to be extended to all the health professionals of Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, so that the judgement of the Supreme Court and guidelines and protocols issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India, on the subject are taken seriously.