Social activists, professionals and legal experts are not amused with the idea of the Delhi Police uploading the details of sexual offenders on its website. They said the move is certainly not going to be a great help for women and it may also be challenged in the court.
It was questioned by many as to how putting up details, like names, photographs, addresses and case details of convicted ‘sexual offenders’ on the police website can help to prevent crime against women in the Capital. A senior police official said that naming and shaming of sexual offenders by the Delhi Police is aimed at making people identify such characters and also putting social pressure on them to check their moves in future.
Following the gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old paramedical student in December 2012, the Delhi Police has put up the names of 664 people convicted in sexual offence cases, including rape, molestation and eve-teasing over the last three decades (1983-2013).
A senior police official said they are expecting that after uploading these pictures along with all the details of accused persons, many victims might identify the accused and inform the police about incidents that might have gone unreported. However, this move has brought sharp reactions from many.
“We do not understand why the Delhi Police has put up pictures of these criminals on their website and what the objective was behind this step. It’s impossible for us to remember the faces of all the accused and verify that with people roaming around us,” said a South Delhi-based psychologist, Geetanjali Kumar.
She claimed that the sexual offence cases are not going to be reduced by this move and uploading the details of the convicted people will not help in reducing the crime against women. “The official website of the Delhi Police is only visited by limited people and many do not even have any knowledge about the website. Instead of uploading their pictures, they should make a safe and secure atmosphere for the woman in the Capital,” Kumar added.
The details of 664 culprits, all those convicted between 1983 and 2013 have been uploaded so far and after collecting the data from crime records office, they are going to upload more details in coming days.
“The Delhi Police should also think about the life of these accused persons as there is a possibility that many of them have transformed after the incident and putting up their photographs was not a solution,” said Sanam Khanna, a Professor at Kamla Nehru College of Delhi University.
Delhi Police officers said that they are doing what people have been demanding after the December 16 gang-rape incident. People were asking for the accused persons be named and shamed publicly and there should be no delay in this step. However, Namita Roy, a Delhi High Court lawyer said the move by the police may invite legal hassle as well. “It can be challenged in the court. It may be challenged as an infringement of human rights. Suppose, one wants to reform himself then what will happen to himIJ Personally I liked the idea, it will act as deterrent,” she said.