Judge warns students on crime against women

“Whether the students treat it as a warning or advice, courts will not tolerate any kind of offences against women and senior citizens, even if the offender is a student,” he said at a function held at a city college.

Apparently concerned over the recent incidents of college students carrying deadly weapons in public transport services, Justice Prakash said many a time, courts had restrained themselves from punishing student offenders considering their future, but would not do so anymore.

He also said offences like damaging public property, teasing women and stalking were grave, non-bailable crimes, and referred to three important Acts to tackle them. “You must all know about three important Acts in Tamil Nadu TN Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, TN Prohibition of Women Harassment Act, and Indian Penal Code. Offences like damaging public properties; teasing women and even stalking are grave crime which is non-bailable,” he added.

Justice Prakash further said the minute an FIR was registered against a student for any such offences, his/her entire future is at stake.

“You become ineligible to apply for a government job, for that matter even a passport. Details of FIRs are available online, therefore there is no scope for suppressing such information,” he warned.

He also pointed out that he chose to attend the event to advice students not to get involved in such offences, knowingly or unknowingly.

The judge also requested the parents to keep a vigil on their wards at least till they complete the first year in college.

“After so many years of schooling, they tend to get carried away by the sudden freedom given to them in colleges,” he said.