Initiatives against atrocities on Women

Initiatives against atrocities on women

Praveen Dixit

DGP (Retired) Maharashtra

As per the statistics available with National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) important crimes against women include a) rape and murder, b) gang rape, c) rape, d) feticide, e) dowry deaths, f) abatement to suicide, g) acid attacks, h) domestic violence in the form of harassment by husband or his relatives, i) abduction and kidnapping, j) sexual harassment, and k) honour killing by parents/relatives. With increase in the use of digital space incidents of cybercrimes in the form of financial frauds, marital frauds, fake digital arrests, sexual harassment are increasing geometrically.

Government of India attaches highest importance to provide justice to victim women and children. In a historical step, government has repealed archaic criminal laws and implemented Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam with effect from July 2024 throughout the country. In these victim centric laws, great importance is being attached to technological innovations and all electronic communications are recognised as evidence. It further encourages e-FIRs, recognises electronic evidence, issuing summons through electronic measures and electronic trials. It also provides for trial of accused in absentia, as many accused after deceiving women, go abroad to escape from the clutches of law. In order to provide immediate succour to victims in instances of emergency, facility of dialling 112 /112 India app has been launched throughout the country. Response to this from police has been brought down to less than ten minutes in most of the urban areas. In addition, cyber helpline 1930 is operational apart from platform www.cybercrime.gov.in to register even anonymous complaints from anywhere.  To expedite trails, directions have been issued to complete investigation in two months in instances of rape, establishing of fast-track courts, trails in camera and prohibition to disclose identity of the victim in any electronic and print media. Facility of representing the victim in trial is a new and welcome introduction from July 2024. Government also provides legal aid and compensation to victims of rape to ensure their rehabilitation.

While welcoming these important steps, a lot needs to be done to make women aware about their legal rights. System also needs to be developed to encourage the victims to come forward to launch the complaints and provide them moral support till completion of the trial. This can be possible if recognised councillors are available in every subdivision to assist the victims.   In addition, following initiatives need early implementation.

• All complaints pertaining to sexual harassment, rape etc must be recorded through video camera only. This would reduce chances of manipulation by police as well as by the complainant subsequently. The recording would be in the language and words as mentioned by the complainant and thus the chances of undue interference would het eliminated.
• To ensure zero pendency, dedicated courts should be established and preferably these should function in two shifts.  
• In cases of sexual harassment, charge sheet should be submitted within 24 hours from the complaint. That would ensure early trial and also reduce chances of interference or influence on the victims. I had started this practice while working as DGP in Maharashtra and that resulted in salutary impact in improving the morale of the victim and creating trust among women in general.
• In incidents of rape, the accused should not be made free as in several instances such accused have indulged in the same grave offences while on bail. In cases where the accused is released on bail, stern preventive action should be taken including bond from the relatives of the complainant, and with women sureties
• Panel of lawyers including cyber experts to be made available as prosecutors.
• Continuous education scheme should be implemented in all schools and colleges against sexual harassment and cyber offences. In addition, training in unarmed combat should be made mandatory in schools and colleges.
• The scheme of dialling 112/ 112 India app needs to be given wide publicity through radio and electronic media on day-to-day basis. At present this facility is not much known even in metropolitan cities such as Chennai.
• Strict access control in all academic institutes should be made mandatory to prevent outsiders from assaulting unsuspected young women.

Implementation of above initiatives along with technological innovations would certainly reduce incidents of sexual violence against women.

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