Lecture on Legal Awareness and Gender Neutral Justice held 

SYED WAJID
sufijourno@gmail.com

New Delhi: A special lecture on The Importance of Legal Education in Women Empowerment in the Modern Era was organized at the Non-Collegiate Women Education Board, Baba Bhim Rao Ambedkar College, Delhi University. The event was led by Professor Dhananjay Kumar, Teacher-in-Charge, and Professor Sadanand Prasad, Principal and OSD. Former Assistant Commissioner of Police, Virendra Punj, was invited as Chief Guest and keynote speaker. The session witnessed the participation of nearly 400 undergraduate students along with faculty members, including Professor Anju, Professor Nazia, and Professor Arun Pratap Singh.

Punj transformed the lecture into an interactive discussion, encouraging students to share their concerns openly. Many students voiced their opinions on gender justice and safety, highlighting their personal experiences and the challenges faced by women in society.

Some students pointed out that societal norms are largely responsible for the exploitation of women, stating that they feel unsafe not only outside but even within their homes and workplaces, where they are often treated as inferior to male family members.

One student shared an incident from her school days, where a teacher had misbehaved with a friend. Despite filing a complaint, no action was taken by the school or the police. She questioned what could be done in such situations.

Another student recounted her own experience of molestation. While the police did register an FIR and the case proceeded in court, the accused managed to secure bail quickly and pressured her for a compromise. She expressed concern about not knowing the current status of her case.

A crucial concern raised by students was that crimes against women and children continue to persist despite stricter laws post the Nirbhaya case. They asked why legal education is not made mandatory in schools to increase awareness and protection.

In response, Punj explained that a lack of legal awareness often leads to crimes going unreported or reported too late. The students were surprised to learn that Legal Studies was introduced as a subject in classes XI and XII in 2013, but many schools had failed to inform students or offer the subject. He emphasized the importance of legal education, covering laws like the POCSO Act, Juvenile Justice Act, workplace harassment laws, and cybercrime awareness, not just for protection but also for career opportunities in law.

To enhance awareness and accessibility, students were also guided on using the Tatpar app, which provides access to nearly 60 online services offered by the Delhi Police.

This interactive session successfully shed light on the urgent need for legal awareness.