The Supreme Court on Monday signaled that it may lay down comprehensive guidelines for courts across the country on how observations and orders should be framed in sexual assault cases, warning that insensitive judicial remarks can create a chilling effect on survivors, their families, and society at large.

A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing suo motu proceedings triggered after the court took cognisance of remarks contained in a March 17 order of the Allahabad High Court. During the hearing, lawyers flagged several recent instances of troubling oral and written observations made by different courts while adjudicating sexual offence matters.

Senior advocate Shobha Gupta pointed to a recent matter where the Allahabad High Court reportedly observed t

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