Crime against women on the rise, deal with stalking sternly: Court

NEW DELHI: Expressing concern over rise in crime against women in the national capital, a Delhi court has said the judiciary should sternly deal with issue of stalking as the perpetrator, “if not treated”, becomes dangerous over time and poses threat to the lives of women.

The court said the Indian society has been struggling to find ways to deal with the crime of stalking, which was made an offence in 2013, but there have been several shortcoming in the existing law and a stalker cannot be allowed to roam around freely as his activities could be dangerous for others.

Special judge Kamini Lau lamented that the society often blames women saying they failed to wear “modest clothes”. However, it has been observed that even those wearing dresses which “society claims are decent”, are also not spared but teased to a greater extent.

“Eve-teasing has not to be judged by men by their own parameters but by women as to how they feel about the same. To a pervert mind, it does not matter how a woman is dressed, how old she is, how pretty she is, where she is — whether in a public transport or hospital etc.

“Eve Teasing is almost institutionalised in public transport and public places and what these perverts look for are easy preys and vulnerable victims so that they are not got caught,” the court said.

The court made the observations while dismissing the appeals of two convicts in a stalk- ing case and upholding their six month’s jail.

It said there was no reason to disbelieve the statement of the 21-year-old woman, who was stalked in 2013 by her two classmates.

There was no reason for her to falsely implicated them in the case, it added.