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No consensus on death for rapists, accord on fast-track courts
Friday January 04, 2013 11:53:15 PM,
IANS
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New Delhi: A meeting of
state police chiefs and chief secretaries here Friday did not
arrive at a consensus on the issue of death penalty for rape
convicts, but broadly agreed to bring down the legally defined age
of "juvenile" to 16 from 18 and fast-track trials of offences
against women, officials said.
The day-long conference, addressed by Home Minister Sushilkumar
Shinde, decided to take steps including increasing representation
of women in police to curb crimes against them.
The conference, which also discussed atrocities against the
Scheduled Castes (SCs) and the Scheduled Tribes (STs), was called
in the wake of huge public outcry over brutal gang-rape of a young
woman here last month.
An official, who declined to be named, said there was no consensus
on amending the law to include capital punishment for rape though
some suggestions were made, including by Women and Child
Development Minister Krishna Tirath, who said she favoured capital
punishment for the Delhi gang-rape culprits.
Shinde declined to comment on the issue, saying suggestions made
at the conference would be considered.
Sources said suggestions were also made at the conference to deny
parole and remission to rape convicts, and there was broad
consensus on bringing down age of "juvenile" to 16 years.
In his address, Shinde said there was need for introspection by
senior government officials on the low conviction rate in crimes
against women and sought corrective steps for time-bound
punishment to the guilty.
He said crimes against women need to be curbed with an iron hand.
Minister of State for Home R.P.N. Singh called for "zero
tolerance" in crimes against women, including assault, molestation
and acid attacks, and said "change must begin here".
Shinde also told reporters that each police station in Delhi will
have 10 women constables and two women sub-inspectors.
"I have signed a file to recruit 2,508 lady police personnel,
including 418 sub-inspectors," he said, and added that similar
recruitment will have to be done by the states.
Shinde said he had asked police to be "very strict" about
harassment of women and increase patrolling.
He said that complaints can be registered online using the newly
Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and System (CCTNS).
Shinde, who launched a pilot programme of CCTNS earlier Friday,
said the home ministry would launch by April citizen-centric
services such as online registration of complaints and tracking of
First Information Reports (FIR).
Citing figures of the last three years, which showed very few
convictions in crimes against women, the minister said prompt
action against offenders would bring respect for the law.
"This conviction needs introspection. Why we failed: whether
investigation, whether lethargy or ineffectiveness of law," Shinde
said.
Home Secretary R. K. Singh suggested that women presence in police
forces should go up to 33 percent and added that it will help
women visit the police station without hesitation to lodge
complaints.
In her address, Krishna Tirath said mixed views have been emerging
ranging from chemical castration to death penalty as punishment
for rape.
The minister said gender sensitisation should be part of
curriculum and there should be compulsory training to all public
functionaries.
"It should be linked to promotion and ACRs (annual confidential
reports)," she said.
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