Odisha Girl Beaten Up In Public For Meeting BF, Does Right To Liberty Exist?

In a shocking turn of events, a young girl in Odisha was tied up and beaten up by the public after she was seen meeting her boyfriend in the Leprosy Colony of the city. According to reports, the girl went to meet her alleged boyfriend in the colony. When some women spotted her, they caught her and assaulted her in public.

Mancheswar Police was immediately informed about the incident and they rushed to rescue the girl. Reportedly, the girl was tied to the pillar of a house and beaten up by women of the colony. The case was reported to the nearest police station to initiate a strict action against the women.

The incident is likely to spark a debate over our rights and liberty as a citizen of India. Under the constitution of India, every citizen has the right to freedom of movement and personal liberty. Let’s quickly take you through the basics -

Right To Freedom Of Movement

The constitution of India comprises six fundamental rights for all the citizens of the democracy. These include the basic right of freedom, speech and expression, forming associations, live a life with dignity and personal liberty. With the right to freedom under the constitution of India, citizens have the freedom to live their life on their own terms. Freedom to move freely is one of the six freedoms which Article 19 in the constitution of India guarantees. With the freedom to move freely, any citizen of India can move freely across the country.

Personal Liberty

Article 21 of the Constitution of India gives the citizens two rights - right to life and right to personal liberty. The article states that no person, who is a citizen of India shall be deprived of their life and personal liberty. The right to life includes right to privacy, right to livelihood, right to live with human dignity, right to health, right to free legal aid among others.

Don't Miss:Moments Of Defiance: Times Women Of Iran Broke Shackles Of Patriarchy

What Does The Expert Say?

Coming back to the case reported in Odisha, we spoke to Civil and Criminal Lawyer Kinnari Mehta and asked her to share about the right to freedom of movement and personal liberty. She said, “India is a free and democratic country. Right to life and personal liberty is a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution and a woman’s rights to dignity, autonomy and privacy are considered as an important facet of Article 21.”

“An act of violence cannot be instigated against a woman, or she cannot be assaulted for exercising her right of personal liberty to choose. Such violence is not only a brutal violation of a woman’s right to dignity and privacy as enshrined under Article 21, but even likely to attract penal charges under the Indian Penal Code for offences punishable with imprisonment,” she added.

Don't Miss: Reproductive Rights: What Are They, How To Claim Them, Expert Weighs In

The crimes against women in the country are on a rise and a brighter side seems a distant dream. It is startling to hear cases like this one where women didn't hesitate a bit to subject a young girl to such a heinous act of abuse. It is only when women make themselves aware of their rights, leave behind the fear of the unknown that they will be able to stand up for themselves. Don’t you think?