India, March 26 -- Justice Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra has come under severe criticism following his March 17 ruling on what constitutes an attempt to rape, which the Supreme Court called "insensitive" and "inhuman".

The Supreme Court condemned the judgment as a violation of legal standards and directed the Chief Justice of the Allahabad high court to take appropriate action against him.

The apex court stayed the ruling, which held that acts like grabbing breasts or breaking the string of a pyjama do not amount to an attempt to rape.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and Augustine George Masih strongly criticised Justice Mishra's reasoning.

"It's very serious and exhibits complete lack of sensitivity on the part of the judge. We are sorry t...