Senior advocate of High Court Madhukar Deshpande warns against accepting beverages, food from strangers

Mysuru: With narcotic drugs becoming easily accessible, senior advocate of High Court Madhukar Deshpande has cautioned the students against accepting beverages and eatables from strangers.

He was speaking at a legal awareness programme organised by Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KSLSA), Department of Judicial Services, Mysuru BAR Association, Department of Psychology, Government Maharani’s Women’s Arts College, Students Counselling Committee, Anti-Drugs Awareness Committee and Maharaja Government PU College, at the auditorium of Government Maharani’s Women’s Arts College in the city yesterday.

Of late, narcotic drugs and chemical substances are easily available and one should be always alert about such toxic products. Especially in this digital era, the excessive use of cell phone and social media have been classified as an addiction, making it very difficult to come out of the same. Technology should be used upon requirement, without compromising on safeguarding personal information.

Watching porn on social media has emerged as a new type of addiction, which may affect personal life too. To come out of stress and depression, one should consume better food, exercise regularly, have a good company of friends and be open to the advise of elders. Those suffering from depression and addicted to narcotic drugs should be brought to the mainstream of society through counselling and medical assistance. Even the law emphasises on reformation and therapeutic measures than punishing them, said Desphande.

Anand P. Hogade, Additional District and Sessions Judge for the Fast Track Special Court-I (FTSC-I), said that Gender Neutral Laws is applicable not only to the girl children, but also to boys aged below 18 years.

Hogade said, in Mysuru court alone, there are six cases in which boys are the victims. The law specifies that even non-reporting of the crime is a serious offence, like the severity of sexual assault and sexual harassment cases that attract rigorous imprisonment. Most importantly, even if a minor girl moves willingly with a boy, it is still considered as an offence under law. If the parents lodge any complaint, the case will be booked under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Principal of Government Maharani’s Women’s Arts College Prof. M.S. Anitha also spoke on the occasion.

Senior Civil Judge and Member-Secretary of Mysuru District Legal Services Authority Nagaraj Siddappa Ankasadoddi, High Court senior advocate Santosh Nagarale, Mysuru Bar Association President S. Lokesh, Heartfullness Institution’s K. Madhusudhan, Anti-Drugs Awareness Committee Prof. K. Saritha, HoD, Psychology Dr. Vani R. Ballal and others were present.

‘Over 600 POCSO cases pending’

Anand P. Hogade, Additional District and Sessions Judge for the Fast Track Special Court-I (FTSC-I), said, over 600 cases under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, are pending for trial in the District Court, with some among them very inhumane in nature. A girl became a constant victim of her father’s sexual assault and was impregnated and delivered a child. Horrendous incidents like these raise a serious question about our culture and the degree of respect towards law.