The Supreme Court ruled that rape survivors should not face repeated court appearances for cross-examination during trials. It quashed a Tripura HC order allowing the recall of a survivor four years after her cross-examination, citing undue hardship.
The Supreme Court urged the Centre to consider amending laws to allow rape survivors to terminate pregnancies beyond 20 weeks, emphasizing no time limit for such cases and highlighting the trauma of a 15-year-old survivor.
The victims' commissioner has made a formal complaint after rape survivors described breaking down in tears during a Westminster evidence session about changes to jury trials. Claire Waxman said she could not in good conscience encourage victim-survivors to participate in sessions that may cause retraumatisation. Survivors described the questioning as "pugnacious" and "threatening", with one stating she was "sobbing and struggling to breathe". Rape Crisis and Women's Aid also raised concerns about the "adversarial" tone.
