Call for stronger action against witch-hunting in Jharkhand

A colloquium on crimes against women, focusing on persistent witch-hunting in Jharkhand, stressed the need for stricter law enforcement and a stronger focus on rehabilitation of victims on Saturday.

Addressing the programme at the Jharkhand Judicial Academy, Supreme Court judge and executive chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), Justice Vikram Nath, said crimes against women stem from deep structural issues within society. He pointed to a significant gap between constitutional guarantees and their implementation on the ground.

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Referring to Articles 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution, he said these provisions ensure equality, non-discrimination and the right to live with dignity, but their benefits are not uniformly realised. He described witch-hunting as a serious form of gender-based violence linked to social inequality, patriarchy and entrenched power structures.

Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah said the issue was not the absence of laws but weak implementation. He noted that adherence to Supreme Court guidelines and proactive functioning of legal institutions at the district level could help reduce such incidents.

The colloquium, held at the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Auditorium, was attended by Jharkhand High Court Chief Justice M S Ramachandra Rao, Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and other judicial officers.

Speakers emphasised that justice must extend beyond punishment to include the rehabilitation of victims. Legal services institutions were urged to expand their reach to rural areas and ensure access to legal aid, awareness and compensation.

The programme also featured discussions on legal and technical issues, and financial assistance was distributed to selected beneficiaries, including women affected by accidents and illness.