India, March 26 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed the controversial March 17 judgment of the Allahabad high court regarding what constitutes an attempt to rape, condemning the ruling as "insensitive and inhuman" and directing the high court chief justice to take "appropriate steps" against the judge responsible.

A bench comprising justices Bhushan R Gavai and AG Masih came down heavily on the judgment authored by justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra of the high court, stating that it violated "canons of law" and demonstrated a "complete lack of sensitivity". The apex court's decision follows its suo motu cognisance of the matter on Tuesday after receiving a letter from senior advocate Shobha Gupta urging intervention.

The Allahabad...