The Punjab and Haryana High Court recently initiated action on its own accord regarding an incident in Tarn Taran where a woman was reportedly assaulted and publicly humiliated by her son's in-laws. The court likened this appalling act to the infamous "chirharan of Draupadi" orchestrated by the Kauravas in the epic Mahabharat.

In Punjab's Tarn Taran district, a 55-year-old woman was subjected to a brutal assault and publicly humiliated by her son's in-laws. This heinous act occurred after her son eloped with another woman and married her against the objections of her family.

The incident transpired in a village on March 31, just days after the victim's son eloped with another woman and tied the knot against her family's wishes, as per police statements. Justice Sanjay Vashisth, upon noticing the "barbaric and shameful incident" through media coverage, proactively took cognizance of it and opted to address the matter as a public interest litigation.

Justice Vashisth is also the administrative judge of the Tarn Taran Sessions division.

Following this, the issue was presented before a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice G S Sandhawalia and Justice Lapita Banerji. The bench then issued a notice of motion to the Punjab government regarding the matter.

"I am reminded of the historical event that had taken place during the Mahabharat era, that is, the chirharan of Draupadi at the behest of the Kauravas and the silence of the Pandavas, including Bhishma Pitamah, which ultimately resulted in bloodshed of thousands of people in the Mahabharat war.

"After centuries thereafter, an ordinary common man does not expect even today that the 'nyay pranali' (judicial system) would be a mute spectator to such incidents, happening sinfully and openly under the nose of the administration," Justice Vashisth observed.

"Being the administrative judge of the Tarn Taran sessions division, I am of the considered opinion that cognisance of this incident is required to be taken suo-motu on the judicial side, because the high court cannot be a mute spectator to such incidents, where the respect and modesty of a lady is outraged openly, and despite taking required steps, police and the other authorities concerned show or adopt a lackluster attitude and do not initiate prompt action," the judge said.

The police reported that four individuals were apprehended in connection with the incident. According to the victim's complaint, she was alone at her residence when her son's in-laws purportedly attacked her and forcibly removed her clothing.

The victim further alleged that they then publicly paraded her in a semi-naked state within the village. A video depicting the victim being paraded in the village surfaced on social media on Friday.

Kulwinder Kaur Mani, the mother of the victim's daughter-in-law, along with her brothers Sharanjit Singh Shanni and Gurcharan Singh, as well as family friend Sunny Singh, have all been arrested in connection with the incident.

Based on the complaint, an FIR was registered on April 3 under Indian Penal Code sections 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 354B (assault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe), 354D (stalking), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 149 (unlawful assembly).