Breaking Stereotypes: Kerala High Court Acknowledges Sexual Assault Can Happen to Men Too

In a significant observation, the Kerala High Court challenged prevailing stereotypes by acknowledging that sexual assault is not confined to women but can also impact men. Justice Devan Ramachandran emphasized the need to recognize the possibility of men being assaulted, even though the majority of victims are women. The judge made these remarks while considering a petition challenging the protocol in Kerala that mandates only gynecologists, preferably women, to examine victims of sexual assault.

The judge highlighted the importance of the protocol in providing support to victims, predominantly women or girls. However, Justice Ramachandran emphasized that victims of sexual assault could be men as well. He noted an increase in boys being victims under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act).

"Here, you have assumed that the victims are women. You should have qualified that the victims you refer to are women victims alone. There are men, and young boys being abused. I have seen a couple of cases recently. There are more boys in POCSO matters these days," Justice Ramachandran remarked.

While addressing the petitioner, a doctor challenging the protocol, the judge urged a broader perspective. The Court agreed to reexamine the matter on March 5, encouraging the petitioner to view it as a social commitment.

"You (petitioner-doctor) should take it as a social commitment. You should go even if you are called at night... I don't find this protocol to be wrong, but if there are any problems in the working of it, we can certainly iron it out," Justice Ramachandran concluded.

Author: Anushka Taraniya

News Writer, MIT ADT University