Wednesday 23 December 2009

Need special courts for sexual crimes


The only way to curb (they will never get eliminated) sexual assaults on women and children is for special super-fast-track courts to be created to deal with these particular crimes. These courts should be given a strict deadline of max one year to either convict or acquit the accused.

In this nation where we waste crores of bucks on nonsense stuff (black cat commandos for faltu netas, free air travel for their extended families, etc), surely some money can be used for the safety of the most vulnerable sections of this nation.

And added to this, there needs to be harder punishment spelt out for such crimes, especially cases of molestation, which currently don’t invite harsh punishment. So, bigger punishment, faster judgment is the only way to go. This can and will be the only deterrent against attacks on women and children in our democratic set-up.

The continued non-action of our governments in this matter is appalling. I mean, what are they waiting for? Vigilante justice to become rampant in this country?

Take the case of the Haryana tennis player who got molested by a cop 19 years ago. She killed herself in 1993, and the trial court has only reached the judgment now!!! Isn’t this sheer madness, an insult to the dignity and life of a minor girl? Think of the way the world has turned upside down in the last 20 years to give you an idea of completely non acceptable such a delay is. And even now, unless the media had got into the act, the guilty cop would have simply walked home.

As someone said, “In the history of the world, the true test of a civilization is how well people treat the most vulnerable and most helpless in their society.”
I am afraid we score a big zero on this parameter. Shame on us.

3 comments:

suchitra said...

the dangerous belief in us Indians tht 'anythng can be managed' is the root of such evils.

Chandrima said...

not just courts...a whole change in the Indian Constitution is needed...Rathore got booked under a case in which he could easily apply for bail..and he is out!!!! His goons have harassing the family for so many years...it unimaginable

Kavita said...

Good article- safety of children and women in all environs should be primary and mandatory-and swift punishment for those that violate this basic right. Ulta nahin hona chahiye- first you get molested, then they harass your brother and the rest of the family for raising a complaint. The worst is that children should have faith in 'policeman'...How will they have faith in the very persona that is known to rape and molest?