The recent spike in crimes against women appears to have shocked the conscience of the judiciary. Talking about the issue while hearing the suo-motu PIL initiated by the High Court to protect women, especially those who work late hours, Justice VM Kanade remarked, “Something is wrong… There was a time when a single constable was enough to deter. But now, no one is afraid.”

Sample this, from an earlier hearing before the same bench: “The question of security of women is a burning issue. A large number of cases of eve-teasing [have been noticed], and people rescuing such women have been assaulted and murdered in some cases. The issue needs to be resolved taking into consideration all aspects... [The] question of maintaining the dignity of women needs to be redressed.”