The number of cases reaching the women cell cum women police station might be on the rise over the years, but counseling the couples in conflict has been the buzzword for the officials manning the cell, formed at the directive of the National Commission for Women (NCW) in December 2010.
The disposal of cases by the cell also prevents them reaching to the courts adding more burden on them.The DSP (Headquarters) heading the cell, claimed that over 70 per cent cases are being resolved after the counseling of both the parties. Cases from all walks of life related to women come to the cell for settlement. "Women's cell is effectively dealing with the cases and we have been able to resolve over 70 per cent of the cases reaching to us. Most of cases are resolved in two or three sessions," said DSP Barbwas Tirkey, who was earlier heading the cell and currently transferred to Vigilance Bureau.
According to Tirkey, the members of cell comprising lawyers, social activists, psychiatrists, journalists as well as police officials, play an effective role in the settlement. "Each member of the cell contributes in his or her capacity and unanimously make efforts to settle the case," said Tirkey. The cell has also lessened the burden of Mahila Police Station dealing with such types of cases. "Most of the cases which are referred to the cell are being settled by the efforts made by the cell making it easy for us. Those cases which are not settled after several rounds of counseling by the cell are referred to the courts," said officer in charge of Mahila Police Station Helen Soy. "But the percentage of such cases are very low," she said.
The cell plays a crucial role in nailing down the real culprits and save the innocent from harassment," she said. Dealing with the eve-teasing cases, the cell after tracing the boy with the help of the police, is made to fill up the bond or give a written apology letter of not repeating the crime again is allowed to go home.
"In most of the cases he does not repeat the crime," she said. But the cases of eve-teasing rarely reach to us as no one wants to lodge a written complaint in such matters and without written complaints we cannot take action against anybody, she added. Psychiatrist Usha Narsaria, one of the members of the cell, believed that since the cases related to women atrocities mostly arise due to ego problems which could be resolved only by counseling.
"Once we hear both the parties separately and counter them explaining the problems as well as the solution to their problems and in two or three days case is resolved," said Narsaria. Sometimes police pressure also plays a key role in settling the cases so that both the parties could happily live together, she added.
The motive of the cell is to satisfy both the parties by counseling so that minimum number of cases reaches the courts. "legal points and the practicalities of the case which could be arising during the legal proceedings are explained to them. Problems faced by both the parties are also told to them," said advocate Manisha Agrawal. It has been observed that after two or three sittings, the two parties reach to a consensus to live together, added Agarwal.
Cases from all strata of society reach here to the cell which could not be categorized in any class. Some rich and influential persons of the city have also come to us who were benefitted by the counseling done by us," said Agrwaal. Recently, a lady approached the cell with a complaint that her son and daughter in law, living with her, are creating problems in the marriage of her daughter as they do want control over the money which the lady received from the retiral benefits of her husband. The son and her wife were issued notices and called by the cell who threatened them of legal proceedings if they do not restrain form such activities.
"As the son again started same activities after six months we have asked the concerned police station to look into the matter and give instructions to him to restrain himself from such activities till the daughter gets married," said Agarwal. The son of the lady will again be issued notice after her daughter gets married and legal actions will be taken if necessary," she added.
The cell - comprising deputy SP (headquarters) Mukesh Kumar, officer in charge of women's police station Helen Soy, former head of the department of Sociology at Ranchi Women's College Dhruv Tanwani, Psychiatrist Dr Usha Narsaria, advocates Pinky Rai and Manisha Agrawal, journalists Aloka Kujoor and Shreyashi Mishra, Manju Sinha of Ranchi Women's College, Medical Officer Sadhna Kumari and social activist Meera Bathwal, was formed at the directive of National Women Commission. The members of the cell meet on the second and fourth Fridays of every month to deal with offences under sections 304(b), 304, 305, 306, 354 and 498 (A) of the IPC.