As we enter a new year, full of promises, resolutions, and celebrations, it’s hard to ignore the painful reality many women in India continue to live with. The reality of deep-rooted fears – fear of harassment, discrimination, and violence. In India, nearly four out of five women have faced some public harassment. So, the arrival of a new year seems meaningless if these issues persist, unchecked and unresolved. The Anna University sexual assault case in Chennai is just one of the many examples that remind us nothing has changed for women in India. 

What happened at Anna University?

A female student of Anna University, Chennai, was assaulted by a stranger who somehow entered the campus at night. He saw the female student with one of her male friends and recorded a video of them without their knowledge. He threatened to leak the video if they didn’t follow his orders and sexually assaulted the female student. After the accused, identified as Gnanasekaran, was arrested, it was revealed that he is a serial offender and has been implicated in over 20 criminal cases.

Like every sexual assault or rape case follows a string of victim blaming, this case fell into that loop too, starting expectedly with the police.

The First Information Report (FIR) mentions the details of the incident: the offender secretly recorded her private moments with her boyfriend and then threatened to leak the videos to the dean and her parents. However, with these details, the police allegedly also resorted to victim blaming in the FIR. Madras High Court Judges, Justices Subramaniam and Lakshminarayan criticised the police for their language saying, “Have you read the FIR? It is an example of victim blaming.”

This is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of systemic victim blaming. Therefore, incidents like the one at Anna University continue to happen day after day. This cycle of grossly misplaced blame creates an environment of fear and silence for the victim, never the culprit.

This case, and many like it, exposes the deep-seated problems within our institutions. Women, despite their education and achievements, are still treated as second-class citizens who must constantly navigate the threat of harassment and violence.

The leak that added insult to injury

Adding to the survivor’s trauma was the gross mishandling of the case. The FIR, containing sensitive personal details, was leaked — an inexcusable violation of Supreme Court guidelines. Such actions discourage survivors from coming forward, especially in a society where sexual assault survivors are frequently stigmatised.

The Madras High Court ordered the Tamil Nadu government to compensate the survivor with ₹25 lakh, recognising the emotional and psychological distress caused by this violation. The court’s directive for the university to provide her with free education and boarding is also a significant step. In India, once a survivor’s identity is revealed, it is common for families to pull their daughters out of school or college, fearing societal backlash. This proactive measure by the court aims to counteract such regressive outcomes and sets a precedent for future cases.

Politicisation of women’s safety

The worst that happens when heinous crimes like these take place is their shameless politicisation. Accusations are hurled at the ruling party and promises are made by the opposition to protect women if they come into power. But the real problem is that this politicisation often sidelines the survivor’s trauma and the pursuit of justice.

The same thing is happening with the Anna University case as the opposition parties are targeting and protesting against the ruling party, DMK. This politicisation erases women and their concerns and focuses on parties battling each other. The same thing happened with the Nirbhaya case in 2012. So many promises were made about women’s security, and we all know where we are now. However, the court has recognised this issue saying that the case is being politicised without any genuine concern.

Justice P. Velmurugan of the Madras High Court issued a poignant statement saying, “I’m ashamed to live in this era when discrimination based on gender, caste, and so on continues. All of us should be ashamed. Strictly speaking, we all are co-accused in such crimes.”

The court’s decision to appoint an all-women Special Investigation Team (SIT) reflects a much-needed step towards restoring faith in the justice system. However, the judiciary alone cannot shoulder the burden of change. It requires collective effort from educational institutions, law enforcement, policymakers, and society at large.

The fear that never fades

As the calendar turns, we are reminded that, for many women, the new year brings no real sense of change. The fear of harassment is their constant companion.
In early December, another incident occurred in Chennai where a mentally ill female student was sexually harassed. Many cases are forgotten with time or never reported. We tell women to be strong and speak up, yet their cries for help fall on deaf ears.

The Anna University case is a reminder that while systems of law and order exist, justice is often delayed. Promises of swift action are often just words. What women need is immediate, effective action that holds perpetrators accountable.

As we usher in another year, we must confront the uncomfortable truth: New Year celebrations are hollow if the core issues affecting society remain unaddressed. Until we address gender-based violence, no new year will ever bring the change we so desperately need.

Related: Badaun Rape And Victim Blaming: It’s Time To Restrict Men, Not Women

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