The Delhi High Court recently observed that educating minor children about sexual harassment by teaching them about good touch and bad touch might not be sufficient to protect them from the threats of the virtual world.
Mentioning that the minors should be taught about virtual touch as well, Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma explained that educating minors about virtual touch involves teaching them about appropriate online behaviour, recognizing warning signs of predatory behaviour and understanding the importance of privacy settings and online boundaries.
She added that just as children are taught to exercise caution in the physical world, efforts must be made to teach them to develop critical thinking skills to assess the credibility of online contacts and safeguard their personal information. Consecutively, she asked the concerned stakeholders to include material in the school curriculum about virtual touch and its repercussions and dangers.
While dealing with a plea lodged by a woman named Kamlesh Devi accused of being involved in kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl, the court made the observations. Kamlesh Devi is the mother of a man named Rajiv who befriended a minor girl on social media, kidnapping her and confining her for days.
The court highlighted that the need of the hour in this case is also to send a message through this order to the concerned stakeholders such as schools and colleges, Delhi State Legal Services Authority and Delhi Judicial Academy to hold programs, workshops, and conferences focusing not only on the traditional concepts of good and bad touch but also on the emerging concept of virtual touch and its potential dangers.
The Delhi High Court further remarked that in today’s virtual modern world where virtual space has also become a breeding ground for alleged virtual affections between teenagers, they are not equipped to deal with the potential dangers of human trafficking for prostitution and other side of crimes which exists in the virtual world.
Furthermore, it was also alleged that the girl was subjected to sexual assault and forced to marry a 45-year-old man in exchange for money. The minor claimed that the accused persons used to bring several men to the premises where she was confined and she was forced to present herself to these men for sexual gratification.
The Court considered the matter and denied bail to Devi. It also directed that the order shall be forwarded to the Delhi Judicial Academy and Delhi State Legal Services Authority for information and compliance.