The remarks came during a hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Senior Advocate Aabad Ponda.

A Bench comprising Justice B.V. Nagarathna and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma emphasized that gender sensitisation must go beyond schools to reach those who are outside formal education systems.

“Leave the women alone in this country. Let them grow,” Justice Nagarathna stated, powerfully underscoring the everyday insecurity faced by women across India.

She recounted real-life instances where women were assaulted while defecating in the open due to a lack of toilets in villages, highlighting how systemic issues compromise both safety and dignity. “Whether in cities or rural areas, the vulnerability of women is something men will never understand,” she observed.

Advocate Ponda argued that sensitisation efforts must target the wider public, especially uneducated individuals or those no longer in school. He advocated for awareness through local self-governments, media, public broadcasts, and seminars. “This problem is serious. Male chauvinism has become so normalised that it is now followed like a rule,” he stated.

The Court also expressed urgency, reminding the government that the academic year had begun and delays were no longer acceptable. It granted the Union government a final three-week period to file a detailed affidavit outlining the educational modules and further steps planned.

The Bench is also considering making the NCERT a party to the proceedings to ensure integration of gender sensitisation into national curricula.