A Public Interest Litigation by Krishnapriya Foundation, Chennai has asked for counselling centres to be set up inside police stations in order that victims of sexual harassment can be assisted. The Madras High Court has now given a notice to the state government in this regard. The petition also asks for a special court for cases under the Information Technology Act to ensure the privacy of victims in cases of pornography.

The petitioner referred to the recent Pollachi sexual abuse case in which a victim’s identity was revealed by the police despite being a violation. The foundation mentioned the role of educational institutions in conducting awareness programmes and workshops to prevent such crimes. They also highlighted the importance of the need for strict disciplinary committees to deal exclusively with these offences and the requirement of stringent punishment.

The foundation emphasised the need for counselling in stations as psychological wounds are harder to heal than bodily injuries. In the light of the euthanasia of Noa Pothoven, a 17-year-old Dutch girl from the Netherlands who was a victim of rape, and depression possibly as a result of the trauma, such measures seem crucial.