Modi knocks at judiciary with concern of ‘atrocities against women’

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Atrocities against women, safety of children serious concern: Modi

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi, August 31: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that “atrocities against women, safety of children is a serious concern of the society”. The prime minister didn’t specifically mention the Kolkata rape-murder of junior doctor.

“I want to raise another burning issue of the country and society before you. Today atrocities against women, safety of children is a serious concern of the society,” said the prime minister. He was speaking at the National Conference of District Judiciary at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi today.

“Many strict laws have been made for the safety of women in the country. In 2019, the government had planned to establish fast track special courts,” added Modi.

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President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar have also made serious concerns about the Kolkata rape-murder of the junior doctor. The RG Kar Medical Hospital incident set off nation-wide protests by doctors.

“Under this, there is a provision of deposition centre for important witnesses. The role of District Monitoring Committees can also be important in this. District Judge, DM and SP are also included in this committee. Their role is important in creating coordination between various aspects of the Criminal Justice System,” added the prime minister.

He underlined that “these committees need t be made more active. The faster the decisions come in cases related to atrocities against women, the greater will be the assurance of safety for half the population”.

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Incidentally, the Kolkata rape-murder of the junior doctor has also turned spotlight on growing crimes against women in metropolitan cities. The crimes against women are rising despite parliament enacting strict laws against sexual offences against women and children.

According to the Crime in India 2022: Statistics Volume 1, the annual report by the National Crime Records Bureau, there was a 4% rise in the registered crimes against women in 2022, compared to the previous year.

In absolute numbers, the total number of registered crimes against women was 4,45,256 cases in 2022. Of these, 31.4% were registered under “cruelty by husband or his relatives,” 19.2% were “kidnapping and abduction of women,” 18.7% were of “assault on women with intent to outrage her modesty,” and 7% were cases under “rape.”

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Similarly, there was a significant rise of 8.7% in crimes against children in 2022, which amounts to 1,62,449 registered cases. Among these, 45.7% of cases constituted of “kidnapping and abduction” and 39.7% of cases were under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012.

“The mindset of the judicial code is not only to punish the citizens. But it also has to provide security to the citizens. That is why, on the one hand, strict laws have been made for crimes against women and children,” added the prime minister.

He also stressed that electronic and digital records have also been recognized as evidence under the Indian Evidence Act. “Under the Indian Civil Security Code, a system has been made to send summons in electronic mode. This will also reduce the burden of pending cases on the judiciary,” added the prime minister.

Modi also stressed that there are about 4.5 crore cases pending in the district courts.

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