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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Judge calls 24x7 women’s help panel, told all officers on vacation by Utkarsh Anand

Judge calls 24x7 women’s help panel, told all officers on vacation by Utkarsh Anand

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published Published on Jan 5, 2010   modified Modified on Jan 5, 2010

Constituted under a special Act and with public money to provide round-the-clock support to women in crisis, all Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) officials were “on vacation” on the New Year weekend, a city court judge found recently.

Hearing a case of molestation on Saturday, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) at Karkardooma court Gurdeep Singh made the phone call to the DCW helpline, only to be told, “Sorry sir, no one is available in the office. All officers are on vacation.”

The case pertains to a minor girl whose complaint of rape was allegedly reduced to that of molestation owing to alleged pressure by the Investigating Officer (IO).

The FIR under Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) was registered against one Mumtaz at Seelampur police station last year. The accused was charged with sexually assaulting the minor, who resided in his neighbourhood.

On Saturday, ASJ Singh was to record the statement of two crucial prosecution witnesses —both women relatives from the victim’s family. But no one came to the court to take the witness box. Taking strong note of their absence, the judge said on the last date of hearing, both witnesses had said that the victim had to be admitted in hospital after she was “raped.”

“On the last date of hearing, I had made inquires from them in the presence of the Investigating Officer... They had stated that the IO had persuaded and forced them not to get the case registered for rape, instead (a) case for offence under Section 354 of IPC was registered,” ASJ Singh wrote in his order.

The judge also said it appears the witnesses did not appear “on account of pressure exerted by the IO on them”.

The court then decided to seek the DCW’s help for getting the support for the victim and her family members, who had to appear as witnesses.

The phone call, however, turned out to be an exercise in futility. “I had got made a telephonic call to DCW for providing support to the child and for following up the case,” the order sheet mentioned. “However, someone who picked up the phone told that no one is available today and all have gone for vacation.”

Disgruntled, ASJ Singh then directed the DCP (North-East) and the concerned area ACP to give protection to the victim and the witnesses. The ACP was also directed to accompany the witnesses on the next date of hearing.

Delhi’s Health and Women and Child Development minister Kiran Walia said, “It would be a little premature to comment without verifying the facts but I will certainly look into it. The rape crisis cell was set up for 24-hour support to the victims. I assure immediate follow-up and necessary corrective actions thereafter.”


The Indian Express, 5 January, 2010, http://www.indianexpress.com/news/judge-calls-24x7-womens-help-panel-told-all-officers-on-vacation/563366/
 

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