Colloquium On Crimes Against Women Held At Ranchi Judicial Academy, Focus On Witch Hunting And Victim-Centric Justice

A colloquium on “Crime Against Women”, with a special focus on witch hunting in Jharkhand and the role of legal services institutions in providing relief and rehabilitation, was held on April 25, 2026 at the Judicial Academy, Ranchi.

The event was organised by the Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (JHALSA) in collaboration with the Department of Women, Child Development & Social Security, Government of Jharkhand, and aimed at fostering a coordinated, victim-centric response to crimes against women.

The colloquium was attended by Justice Vikram Nath, Judge of the Supreme Court and Executive Chairman of NALSA, as Chief Guest, and Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah, Judge of the Supreme Court, as Guest of Honour. Chief Justice of the Jharkhand High Court, Justice M.S. Sonak, and Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad were also present, along with other judges, judicial officers, government officials, police authorities, and stakeholders.

In his inaugural address, Justice Vikram Nath emphasised that crimes against women are rooted in deep structural inequalities and that the justice system must move towards a survivor-centric approach focused on rehabilitation, restoration, and reintegration.

Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah highlighted the constitutional dimensions of the issue, referring to Articles 14, 15, 17, 21, and 39A, and observed that practices like witch hunting reflect the gap between formal equality and substantive justice. He stressed the need for effective implementation of laws and robust victim compensation and rehabilitation mechanisms.

Chief Justice M.S. Sonak underscored that legal reform alone is insufficient to address such issues, noting that witch hunting is linked to structural inequalities and social control. He emphasised the need for proactive institutional responses and a shift towards restorative justice.

The colloquium also marked the launch of several initiatives, including a special Lok Adalat for Negotiable Instruments Act cases, a JHALSA chatbot, a 90-day awareness programme, and the inauguration of a Sub-Divisional Legal Services Committee at Chakradharpur. Financial assistance was also distributed to women beneficiaries and victims under various schemes.

The event featured three technical sessions focusing on constitutional and legal frameworks relating to crimes against women, socio-legal aspects of witch hunting, and victim-centric measures such as compensation, witness protection, and rehabilitation.

Discussions across sessions emphasised the need for coordinated action, capacity building, psychological support for victims, and greater awareness at the grassroots level.

The organisers stated that the colloquium represents a significant step towards strengthening institutional responses and ensuring accessible and effective justice for victims of crimes against women.