To curb the misuse of law in women-related cases, especially those related to sexual assault, Delhi Police have made it mandatory for South-West and West district police to seek written permission from the DCP concerned before arresting the accused.
Joint Commissioner of Police (South-Western range), Tejender luthra has issued the order, which also aims at making senior officers more accountable in dealing with sensitive cases.
The order states that SHOs and Investigating Officers (IO) in rape cases must take written permission from the district head before arresting the accused. In case a district is being headed by the Additional Commissioner of Police, the orders have to be issued by him.
Similarly, in cases of misbehaviour and stalking of women, SHOs and IOs have to first take verbal and then written permission from the sub-division Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACPs) before arresting the accused. This also applies to cases of molestation, eve-teasing, stalking, outraging the modesty of a woman and others. The written orders issued by the DCP or ACP have to be attached with the case files.
The latest statistics provided by the Delhi Police reveal that in South-West Delhi, 137 rape cases were reported till September 3 this year, while 59 cases were registered in 2012. In West district, 51 cases were lodged in 2012, while this year, 128 cases were reported. Similarly, 306 cases were reported this year in South-West Delhi and 36 cases were registered in 2012. In West district, 289 were reported this year, while 30 cases were reported in 2012.
Similarly, 1,137 rape cases were reported from across the Capital this year till September 3, as compared to 475 in 2012. A steep rise in cases of molestation has been seen as 423 cases of molestation were reported in 2012, while 2,447 cases were reported in 2013.
A senior police officer said the order was issued by the Joint Commissioner of Police (South-Western range) on Monday and it was sent to the district head, ACPs offices and all police stations of South-West and West district on Tuesday. “This decision has been taken after several fake rape cases were noticed leading to arrest of innocent people in several cases.”
Meanwhile, in order to deter the 'thana level police personnel' from lodging the Non Cognizable Report (NCR) in cases like mobile theft and chain snatching, Special Commissioner of Police (law and Order), Deepak Mishra has issued an order to register a First Information Report of every cognizable offence. The order stated that after receiving a PCR call, police personnel must mention the details of the case in Daily Diary (DD) entry and register an FIR of every cognizable offence. This decision was taken after receiving several complaints against the police personnel that instead of registering an FIR of mobile theft, chain snatching and pick pocketing, they only gave NCRs.