Upping the ante against Delhi Police, the AAP-led Government has decided to convene a one-day special session of the Delhi Assembly on July 28 to discuss safety and security of women in the wake of murder of a 19-year-old girl Meenakshi in Anand Parbat and set up a Commission of Enquiry headed by a retired Delhi High Court judge under the Commission of Enquiry Act. The Commission of Enquiry will receive complaints from victims of sexual harassment or stalking or voyeurism, in whose cases appropriate action has not been taken by police, since the February 2013 i.e. introduction of the new law. It will also suggest measures to expedite the criminal cases and prosecution.
The Commission of Enquiry will look into cases of crime against women and suggest appropriate action in each case. The Commission will also enquire in case of gross negligence on part of the police officials. The Commission will also try to find out how to implement the recommendations of Justice JS Verma Commission on women safety and security. The decision was taken at Delhi Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
After the Cabinet meeting, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia announced that a one-day special session of the Delhi Assembly will be held on July 28 to set up a commission of enquiry into cases of crime against women in the national Capital. “We have decided to propose the setting up of a Commission of Enquiry to look into crimes against women,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister also said that the Commission of Enquiry would work on a five-point agenda advocating appropriate action in crime against women. “The Commission will work on appropriate action to be taken on complaints and changes to be brought in Criminal Procedure Code,” he added. Through the Commission, the Government also wants to check the inaction of the police in various cases. “The commission will recommend if any action ought to be taken against officers in case of gross negligence,” said the Deputy Chief Minister.
“The special session will propose, discuss and pass a resolution to set up Commission of Enquiry to look into complaints of crime against women and cases in which appropriate action has not been taken,” Sisodia said.
The Commission would seek action against police officials for negligence and support speedy trial of such cases and implementation of the recommendations of the Justice Verma Committee, Sisodia said. Justice JS Verma Committee had recommended amendments to the criminal law for speedy trial and enhanced punishment in sexual assault cases. Committee, which was constituted in the wake of Nirbhaya rape and murder incident, held that the existing laws regarding harassment of women are not enough and thus recommended necessary amendments. Accordingly, by way of the amendment, Section 354A, 354B, 354C and 354D were added to the Indian Penal Code regarding sexual harassment and stalking of women, etc, and a number of amendments were made to the CrPC. Though the amendments were made to the law, but unfortunately they have not been implemented in letter and spirit.
Terming the death of Meenakshi as unfortunate, the Deputy Chief Minister said that women are being stalked in the Capital. The brutal stabbing of the 19-year-old girl on July 16 in Anand Parbat locality of central Delhi has again brought the issue of women’s safety into focus, pitting the Arvind Kejriwal Government against Delhi Police. The Government has accused the police — which do not report to it — of callousness in probing the murder and blamed the police for what it said was the deteriorating law and order situation in Delhi.
Citing the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs in its 185th report, the Deputy Chief Minister said that Parliametnary Committee on Home Affairs has blasted Delhi Police and its functioning. “There are many such instances where the women approach the Delhi Police but they do not get justice — either FIR is not registered or even if an FIR is registered, no further action is taken and sometimes case lingers on for years without effective action,” he added.