`City that never slept is now unsafe for women'

  There was a time Mumbai never slept, the Bombay High Court observed on Monday , lamenting the city's decline while hearing a PIL. The observation was made by a division bench of Justices V M Kanade and P D Kode. They were hearing a suo motu PIL on the safety and security of women who travel for work. On September 17, 2012, the judges upheld the death penalty for two persons who raped and killed BPO staffer Jyotikumari Chaudhary in Pune on November 1, 2007. They also recommended guidelines for women working in night shifts. The chief justice converted their request into a PIL. When it came up for hearing on Monday , prosecutor Poornima Kantharia submitted guidelines and directions have been issued by the courts, to which the judges said it is not sufficient as implementation is required at the ground level. Kantharia agreed, saying people are usually indifferent to the plight of a woman who is harassed and reluctant to help her. "There was a time the city of Bombay (sic) never slept. Women could go out during all 24 hours, now you can't,'' said Justice Kanade. The judges also blamed the ready availability of perverse content on internet and television for corrupting minds. "On the internet all material is available,'' said Justice Kanade, adding, "Children are affected. Channels showing perversity should be blocked." Adjourning the matter, the judges said it would be ideal to increase police patrolling.