Supreme Court Justice on Witch-Hunting: Gender Violence, Social Hierarchies, and Legal Solutions in Jharkhand

Ranchi: Supreme Court of India Justice Vikram Nath on Saturday termed witch-hunting “a severe form of gender-based violence rooted in social hierarchies and collective sanction”.

Addressing a seminar on ‘Crime Against Women (With special emphasis on the issue of witch-hunting in Jharkhand)’ in Ranchi, the executive chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (Nalsa) said, “Crimes against women reflect deep-rooted structural inequalities and highlights the gap between constitutional guarantees and realities.”

Calling upon the legal service institutions to “ensure proactive outreach and implement the victim support mechanism”, he said, “Effectiveness of the justice system lies in its accessibility and impact at the grassroots level,” while stressing on the “need of rehabilitation, restoration, and reintegration of survivors in society”.

Urging for “effective implementation of law, including the Jharkhand Witch Prevention Act,” SC judge Ahsanuddin Amanullah, said, “Witch-hunting is linked to socio-economic vulnerabilities.”

Chief justice of the Jharkhand high court, MS Sonak, said, “Witch-hunting stems from structural inequalities and social control. Justice must extend beyond punishment.”

A judge of the Jharkhand high court and executive chairman of the Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (Jhalsa), Justice SN Prasad, emphasised on the need for co-ordinated and holistic approach to address crime against women.

Justice Nath launched the Jhalsa chatbot with the help of which a citizen can get information about legal services and govt schemes. He also virtually inaugurated the sub-divisional legal services committee at Chakradharpur in West Singhbhum, special lok adalats on negotiable instrument cases and a 90-day awareness and outreach programme.
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