NEW DELHI/CHENNAI/ JAIPUR, Jan 1:
Amid strong demands for tougher laws to deal with crimes against women, a 13-member special task force headed by Union Home Secretary was today constituted to look into safety issues of women in the national capital on a fortnightly basis.
The task force will review the functioning of the Delhi Police on a regular basis. It will also continuously review action taken by the police and the Delhi Government regarding safety issues of women, a Home Ministry announcement said.
The Government’s decision to set up the task force comes against the backdrop of public outrage over the gang-rape and brutal assault of a 23-year-old girl in a moving bus in south Delhi on December 16. She died in a Singapore hospital on Saturday.
Protests on the gang-rape issue continued for another day here with a modest number gathering at Jantar Mantar demanding strong law to hand out stringent punishment to those held guilty of sexual offences.
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde has asked political parties to give their views on reviewing rape laws to the Justice J S Verma Committee, set up to suggest amendments in the statute to provide speedier justice and enhanced punishment in cases of sexual assault against women.
In letters to leaders of all national and State political parties, Shinde said in the light of the Delhi gang-rape Government has given its anxious consideration to the need for reviewing the present laws relating to sexual assault of extreme nature against women.
The Government had on December 23 constituted the Committee under the chairmanship of Justice (retd) Verma, former Chief Justice of India, to look into the possible amendments of the criminal law so as to provide for quicker trial and enhanced punishment to criminals in such cases.
“I would urge you to communicate your views as early as possible as the Committee has been asked to finalise its recommendations early,” he said in the letter, a copy of which was made available today.
The three-member Committee has been asked to submit its report to the Government in 30 days. The other members of the Committee are Justice (retd) Leila Seth, former Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court, and former Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam.
The Home Secretary-led task force will also take into consideration the suggestions made by MPs during debates on the matter in Parliament.
The task force comprises Delhi’s Chief Secretary, Delhi Police Commissioner, Special Commissioner (Traffic), Special Commissioner (Law & Order) and Chairperson, Delhi Commission for Women.
The other members Chairperson, New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Transport Commissioner, Commissioners of East Delhi Municipal Corporation, North Delhi Municipal Corporation and South Delhi Municipal Corporation, Excise Commissioner, GNCTD and Joint Secretary (UT) in the Home Ministry.
Under the existing law, the maximum punishment for rape is life term but the nationwide outrage over the December 16 gang-rape of the physiotherapy student has triggered a demand for death penalty to rapists.
The Government has brushed aside the opposition demand for an immediate special session, saying a decision on the issue could be taken only after the Justice Verma Committee gives its report.
Meanwhile, lawyer Dayan Krishnan, who has been appointed as the Special Public Prosecutor in the gang-rape case, today made it clear that he would not speak to media on the issue.
“As the Public Prosecutor, it is my duty to ensure strict adherence to due process in accordance with the highest standards of rule of law to ensure justice,” he said in a statement.
Krishnan, who has volunteered to be the prosecutor for free of cost, said while sharing the concern of all the citizens of the nation at this “great tragedy”, he feels that making any comment of any kind at this stage would be detrimental to the case.
Police plan to file the charge sheet in the case on Thursday.
Meanwhile, death as maximum punishment and chemical castration for rapists are envisaged in a 13-point action plan suggested today by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to check crimes against women as police in Jaipur decided to train girls in martial art.
Expressing grief over the death of the 23-year-old Delhi gang-rape victim, Jayalalithaa said in Chennai “the Centre will be requested to amend the laws to ensure the maximum punishment of death penalty and chemical castration for those responsible for rapes”.
“The offence should also be made non-bailable,” she said.
The Chief Minister said fast track mahila courts would be set up in each district to investigate sexual assault cases in the State and efforts would be taken to bring such cases under the purview of stringent Goondas Act.
“The Goondas Act will be amended”, Jayalalithaa said, adding incidents of sexual assault will be treated as a grave crime and top police officials would probe them, she said.
Orders have also been issued to put in place close-circuit television (CCTV) sets in all public buildings to identify those who trouble women and police personnel in plainclothes would be deployed at market places and women’s colleges to ensure safety of women, she said.
Setting up of women’s helpline, engaging women lawyers and hearing of sexual assault cases on a daily basis to ensure speedy justice were some of the others measures of Jayalalithaa’s action plan.
In Jaipur, police decided to train girls and women in self-defence techniques in a special drive.
In a bid to develop a sense of security among girls, Jaipur police have decided to conduct a special self-defence training programme for women and girls.
Under the initiative ‘Apni Suraksha Apne Hath’, camps will be organised at various colleges from January 7 to January 25 in which participating women and girls will be trained in basic self-defence techniques.
“Initially, an expert will train squads of women police and those trained cops will further impart the skills to girls and women in different institutions,” Jaipur Police Commissioner B L Soni said.
Karate coach Dinesh Dabi said that enquiries for learning self-defence were pouring in these days continuously with maxium of queries being from girls and working women.
“Women and girls are enquiring about special and short- term packages for learning self defence these days,” he said.
“For creating awareness about the art, we are holding practice display of useful tricks and techniquies which are vital for girls if used at the time of unexpected situation,” he said.
His girl students are displaying the art at places frequented by girls and women.
Jaipur authorities also set up a helpline for women where victims of sexual harassment, eve-teasings and other such offences can report their complaints by telephone, SMS or email, Collector T Ravikant said.
“Women and girls can seek our assistance by calling or sending SMS to the helpline (christeneed Garima) number 789109111 or sending email to garima.Helpline@gmail.Com,” said Additional Collector Rakesh Sharma, who is in charge of the helpline.
“We have engaged our female employees as well as volunteers from social organisations to run the helpline smoothly,” Sharma added.
In Punjab’s Phagwara town, police today launched a toll-free round-the-clock phone helpline for women in order to provide immediate help in case of sexual assault.
City SP Harkamalpreet Singh Khakh said a woman could dial 1091 in case of any trouble in this regard.
He said the helpline facility was functional on BSNL landlines and mobile phones.
He said that initially the existing police control staff would respond to the calls on helpline number but soon women police personnel would be trained and deployed for it.
Khakh said the identity of the caller would be kept secret.
Meanwhile, Justice Usha Mehra Commission, set up to inquire into various aspects of the gang-rape of a girl in Delhi, has invited complaints and suggestions on the shocking incident.
A Home Ministry statement said the Commission, headed by Justice Mehra, a retired judge of the Delhi High Court, will function from its office at Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, New Delhi-110 003 and it could be contact through telephone, fax and email.
The Commission has invited complaints and suggestions on telephone no/ Fax/e-mail address—Justice (Retd.) (Ms.) Usha Mehra, Room No.331, and 331 (A), Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, New Delhi-110003, telephone no. 011-23022365, Fax- 011-23022364 and Email address: usha.Mehracommission@nic.In
It has given one more contact address: S M Aggarwal, Convenor, Room No.330, Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, New Delhi-110003. telephone no. 011-23022363, Fax- 011-23022364 and Email address: usha.Mehracommission@nic.In
The Commission has been set up to enquire into various aspect of the shocking incident of rape and brutal assault of a 23-year-old woman in Delhi on December 16, identify the lapses, if any, on the part of the police or any other authority or person that contributed to the occurrence. The girl had died in a Singapore hospital on Saturday.
It will also fix responsibility for the lapses and/or negligence on the part of the police or any other authority or person.
The Commission will suggest measures to improve the safety and security of women, particularly in NCT of Delhi and National Capital Region.
Justice Mehra and Convenor Aggarwal can be contacted on any working day (except Saturdays/Sundays and Gazetted Holidays) during office hours at the mentioned telephone numbers, Faxes and Email addresses.
The panel, set up on December 26, will submit within three months its report which will be tabled in Parliament along with action taken by the Government. (PTI)
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