📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Vyacheslav Argenberg
Politics
Union Criticises Karnataka’s Rollback of Women’s Night‑Safety Rules
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 13 Sep 2026, 04:33 AM
👁 27
The central government has voiced strong objection to Karnataka’s decision to reverse night‑time safety measures for women.
New Delhi on Monday expressed sharp displeasure after the Karnataka government announced the rollback of night‑time safety provisions that had been put in place for women. Union officials said the move undermines the safety framework that states are expected to uphold under national guidelines.
The Karnataka administration had earlier introduced rules requiring heightened police patrols, better street lighting and mandatory transport assistance for women travelling after dark. The recent decision to dilute these measures has drawn criticism from central authorities, who argue that such steps are essential to protect women in public spaces.
Union representatives warned that the rollback could invite further scrutiny and may prompt the centre to intervene if state policies are deemed inconsistent with national safety objectives. They called for a prompt review and urged Karnataka to reinstate the original safeguards.
The controversy highlights the ongoing tension between state autonomy and central expectations on gender‑safety policies, with women's rights groups also monitoring the developments closely.
The Karnataka administration had earlier introduced rules requiring heightened police patrols, better street lighting and mandatory transport assistance for women travelling after dark. The recent decision to dilute these measures has drawn criticism from central authorities, who argue that such steps are essential to protect women in public spaces.
Union representatives warned that the rollback could invite further scrutiny and may prompt the centre to intervene if state policies are deemed inconsistent with national safety objectives. They called for a prompt review and urged Karnataka to reinstate the original safeguards.
The controversy highlights the ongoing tension between state autonomy and central expectations on gender‑safety policies, with women's rights groups also monitoring the developments closely.